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This 14-lesson unit uses the popular Netflix series Stranger Things as a thematic hook to engage students in developing their descriptive writing skills. Through a blend of modelled writing, textual analysis, film clips, and creative tasks, students explore key techniques such as:

• Using the five senses
• Similes, metaphors, and personification
• Mood and atmosphere
• Symbolism
• Contrast and motif
• Sentence variety
• “Show not tell” technique

Key Features of the Unit:

• Stimulus-Based Learning: Lessons are built around Stranger Things clips and imagery, which provide powerful and engaging stimuli for writing.
• Step-by-Step Skills Development: Techniques are introduced gradually (e.g., similes in Lesson 3, mood in Lesson 7), with modelled examples and scaffolded practice.
• Punctuation and Vocabulary Focus: Each lesson includes at least one short activity on sentence types, vocabulary building, or punctuation.
• Peer and Self-Assessment: Lessons include success criteria, checklists, and peer assessment tasks to promote independence.
• Differentiation: Challenge tasks and extension prompts are embedded, particularly for high-attaining students (e.g., using extended metaphors or embedding symbolism).

Assessment Opportunities:

• Formative Assessment (Lesson 6): Character description
• Summative Assessment (Lesson 14): Setting description

Activities Include:

• Matching vocabulary to moods from video clips
• Rewriting “telling” sentences to “showing” sentences
• Describing places using sensory detail and motif
• Zoom-in descriptive writing tasks from images
• Exploring symbolism using visual cues and media references
• Peer-assessing using success criteria checklists