Bring a professional children’s author into your classroom with this action-writing teaching sequence inspired by Jason Rohan’s S.T.E.A.L.T.H: Access Denied.

Drawing on the Author In Your Classroom podcast, this resource helps KS2 pupils explore how to craft high-energy action narratives with compelling characters and gripping plots.

Rohan shares how his internship with Marvel Comics in New York and his time living in Japan influenced his writing and shaped his creative approach.

Short podcast extracts support each part of the teaching sequence, giving pupils insight into how authors plan and write stories.

Resource pack contents

This free teaching pack supplies all you need to guide pupils through action writing, including:

• A ready-to-use PowerPoint
• Extract from S.T.E.A.L.T.H: Access Denied
• Inspirational images linked to writing themes
• Two planning sheets for story structure and characters
• Themed writing paper
• Working wall images and motivational quotes

Teaching overview

Across structured sessions, pupils will:

• Identify a ‘jumping-off point’ – Discuss how Rohan finds story inspiration and use visual prompts to spark their own ideas.
• Plan start and end points – Explore how knowing where a story begins and ends helps sustain pace, and map ideas with comic-style planning sheets.
• Develop contrasting characters – Analyse character traits and use “role-on-the-wall” templates to deepen understanding.
• Write compelling openings – Learn why strong opening lines hook readers and practise crafting their own.
• Write action scenes – Use short sentences to build pace and structure stories with clear action and linking sections.

Throughout, pupils will discuss plot and character development, rehearse ideas aloud and refine writing through drafting and partner review.

How to listen

Search for Author In Your Classroom wherever you get your podcasts. A free resources pack is available with every episode.

Subscribe to hear more brilliant children’s authors share insider tips that help pupils write with confidence, purpose and flair.

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