For this, I used the above book, which has lots of different cities scenes in. I picked London, and we wrote a setting description of this very busy scene. I used Karl Duke's 'Detail Detectives' tips to get the children to move around the picture, writing about different parts.
Here's one I wrote, then edited and improved. The children had to spot the differences and discuss why they thought I'd made these changes.
The rain fell sideways on the people of London town. The sound of horns and the smell of engines filled the air as cars, buses, taxis and scooters competed for space in the street. Below the street was the Underground, where all kinds of characters stood on the platform, awaiting the next tube. As one pulled into the station, the people waiting tutted and harrumphed; it was already full. For this was a city, a working city and it sang to the tune of Work, Work, Work.
From skies of the gloomiest grey, the rain fell upon the people of London town. The sound of horns and the smell of engines polluted the air as cars, buses, taxis and scooters competed for space in the overcrowded street. Below the hustle and bustle of the street was the Underground, where people of all ages, shapes and sizes, creeds and colours stood close together on the platform, awaiting the next tube. As a train pulled into Picadilly Station, the commuters tutted and harrumphed; it was already full, for this was a city, a busy city, and it sang to the tune of Work, Work, Work.
Next time, I think this particular picture would be better for character description rather than setting as there are LOADS of people in the pictures, but we had a good go anyway.
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