This Year 6 teaching sequence has been designed to support pupils to revisit and recall how the passive voice is used. An interesting and engaging image is provided as a visual prompt to stimulate discussion and inspire creative writing.
Pupils will revisit the grammar focus, in this case the passive voice, before completing the short writing task, applying what they have learnt.
What is included in this story starters resource pack?
- Passive voice grammar writing challenge worksheets
Use the image as a stimulus to practise using the passive voice
What is passive voice?
The passive voice is when the object and verb (or action) is emphasised in a sentence over the subject. The subject is not performing the verb in the passive voice, but is rather being acted upon by it.
When the subject is emphasised, this is the active voice.
Passive voice examples
- The Beatles were adored by fans.
- Claire was chased by the angry wasp.
- The sheep were quickly rounded up by the dog.
- My car was left unlocked.
- The staffroom biscuits have all gone.
Active and passive voice example
- Active: The school arranged a visit.
- Passive: A visit was arranged by the school.
National Curriculum English programme of study links
Use of the passive to affect the presentation of information in a sentence [for example, ‘I broke the window in the greenhouse’ versus ‘The window in the greenhouse was broken (by me)’].