PDFs of activity ideas plus PowerPoint stories
KS2
Years 3-6
Elf Road
This portal stories KS2 resource features Pie Corbett’s original and exclusive portal story, Elf Road, as the basis for writing and grammar activities.
Draw maps, perform the story and write your own tales about gateways into fantastical worlds.
There are many stories around the world about gateways into other worlds. This portal stories KS2 resource has a warning at its core and is a great story for Year 3 and 4 children, though you can use it with older pupils. Children love describing the new setting, the little people and the magical feast.
Getting started
Draw story maps and use actions to retell the story (included in the download). Let the children work in groups. Weaker writers benefit from knowing a text word for word as this helps them to internalise sentence patterns and vocabulary.
Stronger writers can retell the tale in their own words, embellishing. Make sure they perform their stories using expression. Once the class are familiar with the story, read it again and discuss any tricky vocabulary.
Skater & the Mirror
Learn how to write a terrifying portal story tale about dragons with these KS2 activities from Pie Corbett.
This story is based around the simple idea of a magical portal. In this case, there’s a magical mirror that can be ‘stepped through’. Also included is a ‘time slip’ where the story shifts back to explain how the hero found himself in this mythical world.
Drama and writing activities
Read the descriptions of the dragon at the start and towards the end of the story. Get the children to create a quick sketch of the dragon and label this with the phrases used.
Then, working solo or in pairs, give children time to develop descriptive sentences for different parts of the dragon, using new ideas and images.
These should start with the words, ‘I am’. Stand in a circle and, pair by pair, step into the ring and say aloud your ‘I am’ sentence to create a class list poem. For example, “I am the ...”
…fiery eyes glittering inside the charred skull like ghastly lanterns
…jagged jaws, opening to reveal yellow-stained teeth
…gnarled claws, curved like scimitars
Questions to consider
- In the description of the dragon, how does the writer create the effect of something dangerous?
- When Skater and Safia climbed the mountain, how did they know they were safe?
- What do you think ‘the unfortunate events in Pudding Lane’ might have been?
- What does Valjean-Krakanova mean by ‘light fingers’?
- What can you infer from the final paragraph?
More Pie Corbett resources
Browse a wide range of Pie Corbett KS2 stories and activity ideas, including another portal story set in Ancient Egypt.
Pie Corbett is an English educational trainer, writer, author and poet who has written over 200 books. He has experience as a teacher, headteacher and Ofsted inspector. Follow him on Twitter at @PieCorbett.
