Year 6 Create Their Own Stories Inspired by The Arrival

This term, our Year 6 pupils have been exploring the powerful, wordless graphic novel The Arrival by Shaun Tan. The book tells the story of a man who leaves his home and travels to a mysterious new land, capturing the emotions, challenges, and hopes of starting life in an unfamiliar place.

Using the book’s rich illustrations as inspiration, the children examined how pictures alone can tell a powerful story. They discussed the themes of migration, friendship, courage, and belonging, and looked closely at how the author creates mood and meaning without using words

After exploring the text, the pupils were set the challenge of creating their own short stories inspired by The Arrival. They planned imaginative worlds, unusual creatures, and new characters who were beginning journeys of their own. The focus was on:

• Descriptive language

• Building atmosphere

• Showing emotions through actions and setting

• Creating clear story structures

The results were fantastic. Year 6 produced a range of thoughtful and creative stories, many reflecting themes of kindness, resilience, and adapting to change. Some stories followed travellers entering strange new lands, while others imagined futuristic cities or magical worlds.

We are incredibly proud of the effort, imagination, and maturity shown in their writing. It was wonderful to see how a wordless book could inspire such powerful storytelling.