A 30-minute writing task for your YEAR 4 child - the market
10.10.25
A new week, a new writing adventure!
One question Year 4 parents often ask is:
“How can I help my child build strong 11+ writing skills without it feeling like extra homework?”
“How can I help my child build strong 11+ writing skills without it feeling like extra homework?”
One practical approach: weave creativity into everyday moments.That means choosing writing tasks that grow naturally out of experiences your child has already enjoyed.
For example:
• Shopping together → afterwards, ask them to describe the bustle of the market, the colours of the fruit, or imagine what a shopkeeper might say in a story.
• Visiting the beach → encourage them to capture the rolling waves, the feel of sand between toes, or even invent a mysterious message in a bottle.
• A walk in the forest → let them describe the crunch of leaves, the towering trees, or imagine magical creatures hiding in the undergrowth.
For example:
• Shopping together → afterwards, ask them to describe the bustle of the market, the colours of the fruit, or imagine what a shopkeeper might say in a story.
• Visiting the beach → encourage them to capture the rolling waves, the feel of sand between toes, or even invent a mysterious message in a bottle.
• A walk in the forest → let them describe the crunch of leaves, the towering trees, or imagine magical creatures hiding in the undergrowth.
Because these are moments they’ve seen, heard, smelled, and felt, the words come more easily. Writing then feels like reliving the fun, not sitting down to “extra work.” Over time, these quick exercises build vocabulary, strengthen description, and make children more confident writers—without the pressure of homework. 
TOP TIP: Encourage oral rehearsal of ideas before writing—this step is essential for developing strong writers. If a child can say a sentence with vivid description, they will almost always be able to write it.
This week’s theme: The Market
A bustling, colourful setting that sparks the senses and offers endless scope for imaginative description. Below you’ll find:
A short practice extract
A writing toolkit (words & techniques)
A practical 30-minute task to try at home
A short practice extract A writing toolkit (words & techniques) A practical 30-minute task to try at home(If you missed Weeks 1 & 2, links are in the comments 
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Try this at home (about 30 minutes):Reading prompt:
“Saira and Daniel wandered into the busy market square. Colourful stalls lined the street, with ribbons fluttering in the warm breeze. The smell of fresh bread and sizzling food drifted through the air, and everywhere people were laughing, talking, and calling out their wares…”
“Saira and Daniel wandered into the busy market square. Colourful stalls lined the street, with ribbons fluttering in the warm breeze. The smell of fresh bread and sizzling food drifted through the air, and everywhere people were laughing, talking, and calling out their wares…”
Task: Describe the lively, colourful market square.
Tip: Look at a photo of a cheerful market first to spark ideas (or use the one I’ve shared).
Tip: Look at a photo of a cheerful market first to spark ideas (or use the one I’ve shared).
Writing ToolkitAdjectives: colourful, bustling, fragrant, cheerful, lively, crowded
Verbs: bustled, drifted, jingled, called, shimmered, spilled
Similes: “bright as a rainbow of flags”; “voices rising like cheerful music”
Onomatopoeia: chatter, clink, buzz
Personification: “the stalls beckoned with treasures”; “the spices danced on the breeze”
Metaphors: “a sea of voices”; “a feast for the senses”
Alliteration: busy bazaar; sizzling stalls; colourful crowd
Parent tip:Brainstorm a few sentences together using the toolkit. Encourage your child to mix action and description. For example:
“The busy bazaar buzzed with chatter, while ribbons of colour shimmered above the crowded stalls.”
Small, playful tasks like this build imagination, vocabulary, and confidence—all essential for writing success.
I hope you and your children enjoy this week’s task!