Boxing Up a Story: The Talk for Writing Planning Template

**Boxing up** is the step where a story map becomes a paragraph plan. Each box is a chunk of the story, so children always know what to write next.

How to teach boxing up

1. **Recap the model text** using the story map. 2. **Draw the boxes** — one per section (opening, build-up, problem, resolution, ending). 3. **Summarise each box** in note form, not full sentences. 4. **Add toolkit language** beside each box (connectives, sentence types to include). 5. **Innovate the notes** to plan a new version. 6. **Write box by box**, turning notes into sentences.

How to use the free boxing-up template

The template stacks five labelled boxes down the page. Children jot a few words per box — enough to remember the order and key vocabulary — then write one paragraph per box. It keeps long pieces of writing organised and stops children from "getting lost" mid-story.

Quick tips

• Notes, not sentences, in the boxes.

• Colour-code toolkit features you want to see in the writing.

Download the free Boxing Up template from the **Assets** box below.