6 Blue have really enjoyed our short writing unit based on Shaun Tan’s picture book masterpiece, ‘The Arrival’. We created a narrative version of the early chapters of the story, using and applying our SPaG work on direct speech and description to help convey the characters’ thoughts and feelings. We picked up the story as the main character faces the heart-wrenching moment that he is taken away from his family to begin a journey into the unknown…
Here is a sample of short extracts from some of the children’s writing:
As I awoke, I knew what day it was. Today was the day that I would leave my family behind to go an unknown place. Not even I knew what was in store for me…
Although I felt the dread and the guilt travelling up and down my shivering body, the day that I wish wasn’t happening finally came. As Sarah and I packed the last of my belongings into my rusty ragged suitcase, the unease was following me everywhere…
It seemed that Sarah and I were both hit with sharp arrows that paralysed us. I could see that we were thinking the same thing – was she listening to our conversation?..
Her eyes started to swell up with water, then they came down her face like a waterfall. She knew what my facial expressions meant…
By the time we left the house, it was already almost dark and the sky was filled with grey gloomy clouds that loomed over us like skyscrapers…
As we locked the house door, we could all feel a cloud of uncertainty flow in the sky around the streets. The streets were cobbled prisons that felt like there was no escape…
A shadow of despair followed us with a screeching sound of silence. Each uncertain step of this journey hurts and Charlotte held onto my hand tightly…
As the train set off into the unknown, I could sense my daughter’s fear and worry. Nearly falling asleep, I stayed awake long enough to feel the train slowly come to a stop…
This time, I set off. I walked with regret towards the entrance of the train, which arrived with a very loud screech, and waved goodbye. There was no turning back…
Over the clear, deep blue seas our cruise ship floated. After a stunning view of the majestic waters, it was now nighttime. I viewed a galaxy of wonders and shining stars. Silence. Nothing was heard except the murmurings of the fellow passengers…
The sky is filled with icy stars and it is pitch black. Under the endless velvet sky, I sit here on this ship in boredom while the stars twinkle above…
She was sobbing and had an upset face that I hoped I would never have to see. “Everyone this way!” shouted an unknown voice…
