Narrative Writing Escape Room | Years 7-9 | English Transformation Lesson (V9)

Narrative Writing Escape Room - Transformation Lesson - Alignment with Version 9 - Years 7-9

What is this resource?

This 60-minute Narrative Writing Escape Room is an engaging, competitive lesson designed to consolidate students’ narrative writing knowledge and skills. Delivered as an editable PowerPoint, this resource includes all the materials needed to create an immersive and interactive learning experience. Teachers can easily differentiate the tasks or print them as they are for a ready-to-use activity.

Designed for Year 7-9 students, this resource aligns with the Version 9 Australian Curriculum, reinforcing essential narrative writing skills in an interactive format.

What is an Escape Room?

An Escape Room is a themed challenge where students must work collaboratively to solve a series of tasks and puzzles within a set time limit. In this narrative-focused escape room, students will complete nine interactive challenges related to storytelling, gradually unlocking the final piece of the puzzle that allows them to “escape.”

How does it work?

This resource includes:
✅ Escape Room PowerPoint slides – guiding the game step by step
✅ Learning Intentions & Success Criteria – setting clear objectives
✅ Student and Teacher Instructions – ensuring smooth facilitation
✅ Game Cards, Props & Certificates – adding to the immersive experience
✅ 9 Task Cards – a variety of written, creative, and physical challenges, including:

• Decipher the Code – cracking a narrative-related puzzle
• Terminology Match – reinforcing key literary terms
• Show Don’t Tell – practicing vivid description
• Annotation Race – engaging with narrative exemplars
• Dynamic Dialogue - exploring key rules for writing dialogue
• Who Am I? – identifying characters and themes
• Image Enigma – testing knowledge in a fun, interactive way

Why will teachers and students enjoy this?

Engaging & Competitive – Encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and active participation
Curriculum-Aligned – Revises essential narrative skills, including:

• Language Features & Text Structures
• Show, Don’t Tell Techniques
• Punctuation & Grammar
• Exploring & Annotating an Exemplar (Spooky Narrative or 1920s Story

Hands-On & Interactive – Blends written, creative, and physical challenges for all learning styles

Flexible & Editable – The entire resource is editable which means it can be adapted for different ability levels or your key terminology.

Australian Curriculum Version 9 Alignment (Years 7-9)

This resource aligns with the following English content descriptions:

Language

• AC9E7LA01 / AC9E8LA01 / AC9E9LA01 – Understand how language choices shape meaning in different text types
• AC9E7LA04 / AC9E8LA04 / AC9E9LA04 – Investigate text structures and language features of narratives
• AC9E7LA06 / AC9E8LA06 / AC9E9LA06 – Use figurative language, including ‘show don’t tell’

Literature

• AC9E7LE01 / AC9E8LE01 / AC9E9LE01 – Engage with and respond to different narrative texts
• AC9E7LE02 / AC9E8LE02 / AC9E9LE02 – Analyse how authors use literary devices to create effect
• AC9E7LE04 / AC9E8LE04 / AC9E9LE04 – Explore the ways authors manipulate language

Literacy

• AC9E7LY03 / AC9E8LY03 / AC9E9LY03 – Edit for clarity, cohesion, and punctuation
• AC9E7LY06 / AC9E8LY06 / AC9E9LY06 – Create cohesive texts using narrative conventions

Bring storytelling to life in your classroom—will your students escape in time? ⏳