Weekly Writing Task

Science Fiction Story

Welcome young authors!

Your task this week is to write a Science Fiction story to entertain Year 6 children.

Remember Science Fiction stories contain imaginative ideas about what future developments in science and
technology might lead to. They are often set in space or on a futuristic interpretation of planet Earth. The characters
may include humans, robots and extra-terrestrials. There is a short example text at the end of this document.

Task 1 – Describe the Science Fiction setting – Draw the setting and annotate

Firstly, watch the video clip ‘Eleven’ that can be found on Literacy Shed.

www.literacyshed.com/uploads/1/2/5/7/12572836/eleven_-_youtube_959.mp4

Make notes on what you think the main character can see, hear, smell, taste, touch and how their emotions change.

Now draw what you think the planet looks like. Use what you know and add to it using your own imagination.
Annotate your picture using descriptive language such as adjectives, similes and metaphors. Remember you might
want to use an online thesaurus to improve your vocabulary choices. Share your imaginary setting with an adult.
Encourage them to ask you questions about the planet and use your imagination to provide answers.

Task 2 – Describe the characters in your story- Draw the characters and annotate

Choose between 2 and 4 characters making sure that at least some of the characters are in opposition to each other
(goodies and baddies). You can use the characters shown in the clip, but try to think of some of your own too. Draw
your characters and annotate to describe their appearance, personality and how they communicate.
Task 3 – Plan your story - create a story map and draft your story opening

Create a story map to outline the main events in the story. Remember to include problems that are not easily solved
and at least one ‘near-miss battle’ (a battle where the main character is in great jeopardy, but manages to survive).
You need to consider how you will create suspense. It is not the most gruesome stories that are the most
captivating, but those that build tension and leave parts of the story to the readers’ imagination.

Now draft the opening to your story. This is one of them most important parts as a captivating opening will ensure
the reader continues to read the whole story.

How are you going to start?

 Describe the landing or planet

Task 4 - Write your story using your story plan

Re-read your draft opening and make any necessary changes. Now write the main body of your story using the
success criteria as a planning tool. Try to write quickly so that your story flows. Remember you are in control of the
events in your story and how the characters respond; makes sure what they say to each other advances the action in
your story.

If you find that your imagination has created a better idea than the one you have planned do not be afraid to change
the direction of your story. Real authors are continually developing their ideas and forming new ones.

Check that you are paragraphing correctly by starting a new paragraph for:

 Change of time
 Change of place
 Change of speaker

Ensure that your story is not repetitive by making effective use of pronouns and fronted adverbials.
 Success Criteria
Audience and Purpose

Gripping opening
Dialogue to advance action.
 Use of inverted commas
 New speaker, new line.

Effective paragraphing
 Change of time
 Change of place
 Change of speaker
Cohesion
 Use co-ordinating and subordinating
conjunctions to create links within sentences
and within paragraphs.
 Link the story opening with the story close.
Y6 Punctuation
Use of parenthesis - () --,,
Use of a colon to replace because
Use of a semi-colon to replace for, and, nor, but, or
and so.

Task 5 – Edit and proof-read your story

If you have yet to finish your story use some of the time today completing it.

Once it is complete reread your story. Spend at least 15 minutes editing and improving parts of your story. You may
choose to rewrite a whole paragraph by adding ‘a flap’ or insert improved words and phrases.

Now proof-read your writing to check for any spelling and punctuation errors. You may want to use an online
dictionary.

Now time to share with an adult. I hope your science-fiction adventure has them on the edge of their seat!
Short Example Text for Science Fiction Genre

Space Holiday

Descending from the clouds, the craft that would take them to Raxx arrived. Obviously, it had done the
trip a multitude of times: rust could be seen on the wingtips, corrosion around the windows. Jina clapped her
hands excitedly and nudged her taller, slimmer, more apprehensive brother standing beside her. Tomi -
knowing that Jina’s bravery was sometimes her curse - glanced her way nervously saying, "Jus’ hope this thing
flies better than it looks.”
"So do I!" she winked back.

Lift off was smooth enough. Jina, Tomi and about one-hundred other space-holiday-makers were
occupying themselves with their smart-glass pads when it happened. THUD! The craft jostled and wrestled
with the unusual atmosphere of the new planet; air supply packs burst from above them releasing life-saving
oxygen. "C-ould b, be w...orse, I guess" Tomi managed between jounces. Abruptly, everything came to a serene
halt creating a moment of silence. "Yep, true," Jina smirked, a cheer spontaneously erupted from the
passengers, "Could’ve chucked up - all over you!"

As it happened, they had landed – successfully and cleanly. Raxx - the ‘planet of holiday dreams’ -
differed in the tourists’ imaginations. Yet, in reality, it had two suns, a green sky and mountains made of pure
crystal. Not a human in sight: the only 'living' creatures seemed to be a crowd of busy red-eyed, tri-wheeled
robots leading people to their luxury rooms.

Jina turned to Tomi to crack another joke.... Tomi was gone! Searching frantically, Jina turned the space hotel
upside down – no Tomi! Out of the corner of her eye, she spied a red-eyed robot acting suspiciously. She
chased; it ‘ran’. Finding herself in the depths of the space hotel, she had no clue how to return to the surface.
Yet this didn’t faze her, she had her trusted instincts.

A familiar voice from behind a thick metal door cried out, “Jina! Someone! Help!” Unlocking the door
from the outside was easy, getting Tomi out from the electric-blue force-shield would prove more difficult. A
red-eyed robot appeared and zapped Jina in the leg, Tomi bashed the force shield, Jina grasped the robot by
the wheel. Using all of her strength, the bot was flipped on its head by Jina; with a tremendous burst of
electricity both the bot and the shield clashed and momentarily ceased to function. Tomi grabbed Jina by the
arm and they both ran, ran at warp speed until they saw the glorious light of the two suns.

Retelling their story to the rest of the guests, the two young holiday makers warned of malfunctioning
robots, they also smiled, realising they had already had the interplanetary adventure of a lifetime.