The Magic Ring

This lesson plan is taken from my new book, Boost Creative Writing at KS2.

Preparation: if you can provide some cheap rings for the children to handle, that’s great. But they could quickly fashion their own out of pipe cleaners or silver foil or ribbon, or you could use Haribo ‘Friendship Ring’ sweets.

Make the warm-up prompt something to do with magic.

      Discussion: what would you do if you were invisible? Ask the children to make a list of advantages and disadvantages to being invisible. What would an evil person do with such a power? What would a trickster do? Could you use the power to help others?

Read them this story:

You’re in a strange city, wandering around the shops, looking for a present for your mum. You go down an alleyway, off the busy main street, where it’s quiet and the buildings look older and shabbier. A shop sign catches your eye: Unique Jewellery. So you peer into the grimy windows and you can just make out a tray of very cool rings with a sign saying “The best gift you’ll EVER give”.

You push open the door and enter the shop. Inside it’s dim and cluttered, packed with amazing objects. In the corner towers a stuffed grizzly bear, balancing a spotted teapot on its paw. A live robin hops from perch to perch, eyeing you cheekily. There’s a spiked German helmet from World War 1 dangling from the ceiling above your head, and a row of fairy lights shaped like cats’ eyes are twined round the shop counter. The floor seems to be made up of pound coins set in plastic. Somewhere far off, a music box tinkles faintly. You try not to sneeze at all the dust.

Then the shopkeeper emerges from behind a red velvet curtain. He’s small with a face like a monkey and bright, clever eyes. He asks you want you want and you say you’d like to take a closer look at the rings.

Without another word he steps forward, reaches into the window, brings out the tray and places it before you. Your eyes boggle. They’re all amazing. Which to choose?

The more you stare, the more one ring draws your attention. In fact, it’s started to glow faintly. When you reach out to touch it, there’s a little prickle of electricity and a blue spark. You catch your breath. This is the ring for you. You hardly dare ask how much it is.

But the shopkeeper has read your thoughts.

“For you, today, that ring only costs one penny,” he says. “You and that ring are meant to be together.”

Your heart’s beating fast. 1p? He’s got to be mad. Best to pay the guy and get out of the shop! Quickly you fumble in your pocket and draw a penny out. It looks ridiculous. Nevertheless, he snatches it in a cool, dry hand, and with his other passes you the ring. Before he lets it go, though, he whispers to you: “Use it wisely, or else.”

And then, suddenly, you’re out on the street again, with no memory of opening the door or walking through it, and when you turn and check behind you, the shop has vanished.

Give out the rings, or whatever they’re making rings out of. They can fashion their own ring and wear it while they write.

Now tell the children: this ring, that you knew was magic somehow, turns out to make you invisible! And you’re going to tell the story of what happened next. Looking back at your list of advantages and disadvantages, explain how you used the ring and what happened as a result. Is this a happy story or a tale of disaster? 

If any of them need a starter line, tell them to begin by saying they tried to look at their watch and realised they couldn't see their own arm.