An Eagle in the Snow “I love trains, everything about them, the hissing and the puffing, the rhythm and the rattle and the rocking, the whistling and the whooping, the roar as you burst into a tunnel, into the deep thunderous blackness, and then suddenly, with no warning, you’re out again into the bright light of day, the horses galloping off over the fields, the sheep and crows scattering.”
Storytelling challenge: Choose a topic that you are passionate about: a hobby, a favourite sport, a type of animal that you love. Prepare a short piece to share (either spoken or written) about your chosen topic. Think carefully not just about what you say, but how you say it.
You should: • Speak or write in the first person (I love… My favourite thing is…) • Think about the rhythm of your piece – does it capture a sense of excitement and passion? • Be enthusiastic about you topic and share why it is wonderful!
You might: • Use one long sentence made from lots of clauses (see the extract above) to show how excited you are. • Use interesting and well-chosen verbs to share information and create a sense of excitement. • Use rich adjectives to describe the things you talk about. • Include details that will bring the topic to life for your audience.
Stuck for ideas? Try to think of a subject that you know lots about and which genuinely excites you: • Your favourite hobby (dancing, cooking, playing an instrument, fishing, drawing) • A sport or game (football, tennis, swimming) • A topic in which you’re particularly interested (animals, dinosaurs, trains, space) • A game you love to play • A job you’d like to do when you’re older (a vet, a footballer, an astronaut, a scientist)
An Eagle in the Snow