Keep the Magic Alive!
Follow-Up Activities for The Best-Kept Secret Author Visit
After a captivating author visit, the magic doesn’t have to end! Sophie’s interactive storytelling and sensory workshops brought The Best-Kept Secret to life, and now we’d love to help you keep that spark alive in the classroom!
These follow-up activities are designed to build on the excitement of the visit and support a wide range of curriculum areas. From diary entries and persuasive writing to oral storytelling, myth-making, art and design and character exploration, each task is rooted in the National Curriculum and encourages pupils to write, perform, imagine, and reflect, all while developing a deeper understanding of voice, structure, and creativity.
While many activities directly link to English objectives, they also open doors for cross-curricular learning, supporting topics such as local history, geography, the Stuarts, folklore and fantasy, myths and legends, and Crime and Punishment.
Each activity includes downloadable resources to support you and the children in your school.
Writing for a range of purposes
Curriculum Link: English Programmes of Study - Writing for a Range of Purposes: "Write for a range of purposes, including to entertain, inform, and persuade. Presenting an informed and well-supported opinion, ensuring clarity and structure."
Option 1: Book Review of The Best-Kept Secret
Students can write a book review, discussing the plot, characters, and themes of The Best-Kept Secret. This encourages critical thinking and helps students practice offering opinions supported by evidence from the text.
Download the Book Review Template for students to structure their reviews with clear sections for summary, opinion, and recommendation.
Option 2: Review of the Author Visit
Students can reflect on Sophie's author visit by writing a review of the experience. They will describe what they enjoyed, what they learned, and how the visit helped them connect with The Best-Kept Secret.
Download the Book Review Template to guide students in organising their thoughts into a clear and engaging review.
Option 3: Thank You Letter to the Author
A thank you letter encourages students to reflect on the author visit and formally express gratitude. Students can share what they enjoyed most, how the visit inspired them, and what they learned.
Download the Thank You Letter Template to guide students in structuring their letters.
Argument and Persuasion
Curriculum Link:English Programmes of Study - Argument and Persuasion:"Use evidence, reasoning, and a formal tone to argue a point. Write persuasively to influence others, making clear, well-supported arguments."
Option 1: Persuasive Letter to King James I
After learning about the Pendle Witch Trials, students can write a persuasive letter to King James I arguing for mercy for Elizabeth Demdike. This activity allows students to use reasoning and historical context to build a persuasive argument.
Download the Persuasive Writing Letter Template to support students in structuring their letters with a clear introduction, reasons, and conclusion.
Option 2: Persuasive Speech to the Judge
Students can take on the role of a lawyer and write a persuasive speech to the judge in the Pendle Witch Trials, arguing for Elizabeth Demdike’s innocence based on the lack of evidence and her good intentions.
Download the Persuasive Writing Letter Template to help students structure their speech with a strong opening, logical arguments, and a compelling conclusion.
Diary Entries: Writing from a
Character’s Perspective
Curriculum Link:
English Programmes of Study - Writing (KS2):
"Write from a character’s perspective, using the first person to explore emotions and inner thoughts. Organise writing logically with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Use appropriate grammar, punctuation, and cohesive devices."
Option 1: Diary Entry from Elizabeth Demdike
In this exercise, students will write a diary entry from Elizabeth Demdike’s perspective, reflecting on the moment she accidentally created Our Kid the Dragon instead of the Princess for the Knight. Demdike might be surprised, confused, and perhaps worried about what will happen next.
Download the Diary Entry Template for Elizabeth Demdike
Option 2: Diary Entry from Our Kid the Dragon
In this exercise, students write a diary entry from Our Kid the dragon’s perspective, reflecting on the prospect of being alone in the tower without Elizabeth Demdike. Our Kid might feel a sense of loss and fear about the uncertainty of what’s to come.
Download the Diary Entry Template for Our Kid
Option 3: Diary Entry from Elizabeth Demdike
Students write a diary entry from Elizabeth Demdike’s perspective, reflecting on her fears and feelings as she realises she might be imprisoned for life. She might feel guilty for leaving Our Kid behind and wonder what she can do next.
Download the Diary Entry Template for Elizabeth Demdike
Creative Writing: Crafting Descriptions
The Subjunctive: Wishes, What-ifs & Important Sentences
Curriculum Link – Year 5 & 6
English Programmes of Study – Writing
Pupils should Yse verb forms that are appropriate for the text, including the subjunctive form to express wishes, suggestions, or hypothetical situations.
The Best-Kept Secret supports Year 6 grammar including the subjunctive mood. The text features a subjunctive trigger “I wish I could say they lived happily ever after” , which expresses a wish about an unreal situation. The story also lends itself perfectly to subjunctive practice through magical spells, wishes, and imagined outcomes. Children enjoy rewriting key moments such as “If the dragon were to escape…” This creates meaningful opportunities for contextualised grammar work alongside rich imagination and storytelling.
What is the subjunctive?
The subjunctive is a special way of writing and speaking when:
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we wish for something
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we imagine something that isn’t true (yet!)
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we say things in a very formal or important grand way
We use it to show hopes, dreams, regrets, and grand instructions.
We switch to were and be, instead of the usual verbs:
Normal Subjunctive
If I was a knight... If I were a knight…
I wish it was easier.... I wish it were easier…
It is important that she is a princess. It is important that be a princess
There is one moment in the story where the narrator uses a wish:
"I wish I could say they lived happily ever after,
in a home that rang out with the sounds of koy and laughter..."
This tells us something didn't go the way it was hoped
and gives us a perfect starting point to explore wishful thinking and imagined endings.
Rewrite the ending using the subjunctive.
Begin with the story line and continue it:
Model:
I wish I could say they lived happily ever after, in a home that rang out with joy and laughter.
If the judge were kinder, they would still be safe in their home
Wish vs reality caption.
Pupil task:Write a “wish line” and a “truth line”.Two short lines:
Model:
If the magic were perfect, the knight would be happy and content.
But spells do not always work as planned.
Rewrite emotional turning points
Ask pupils to rewrite a key moment with a wishful/hypothetical voice:
Example moment: the dragon emerges from the cauldron instead of a princess
Teacher prompt:
Rewrite this scene as if Demdike's spell had succeeded and she had created a princess for the knight, instead of a baby dragon
Target language:
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If the spell were perfect…
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If the correct egg had been used in the spell…
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Let the princess be born ifrom the cauldron…
Rewrite Demdike's spell
Must include:
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Let… be…
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If… were to…
Example result:
Let the egg be a phoenix egg
Let no scaled green scaly creature be formed this night.
If my magic spell were good enough, a princess would rise from the steam..
King James decree against magic
Tie to King James scene.
Teacher prompt:
Write a royal proclamation banning magic.
Model expectations:
It is decreed that…
It is essential that no witch be seen…
Should anyone practice magic, they be punished…
Demdike’s regrets diary
Teacher prompt:
Write a diary entry after Demdike’s three mistakes using the subjunctive.
Example expectation:
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If only I were wiser…
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If the egg were a phoenix’s…
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Had I left before sunrise, the castle keep would still stand.
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If my heart were not so soft, I would be safe.
Our Kid, the dragon's wish list
Task:
Write a “wish list” from Our Kid’s point of view using the subjunctive mood.
Model expectations:
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I wish the villagers were not frightened.
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If I were smaller, I would curl up by the hearth.
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Let the children be brave enough to stroke my scales.
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If only I were allowed in the market square, I would buy a cake every morning.
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Success criteria:
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One wish (I wish… were…)
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One hypothetical (If I were… I would…)
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One magical imperative (Let… be…)
Creative option:
Pupils write their wishes on flame-shaped paper “scales” to stick on a dragon outline.
The Knight’s Request Letter
The knight politely asks for a princess.
Because he is making a formal request, he uses the subjunctive.
Task:
Write a formal letter from the knight to Demdike requesting a bride with royal blood, using the subjunctive mood.
Model examples
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I ask that my wish be granted.
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I wish my life were filled with loyal companionship.
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If I were blessed with a princess, I would honour her forever.
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I request that the princess be…
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It is vital that she be…
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Should she be found, I promise…
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Let our future be…
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If fortune were kind,…
Pupil outcome
Write a formal request letter with:
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“I ask that… be…”
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“I wish… were…”
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“If I were… I would…”
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Creative options
Feather quills / scroll paper / wax-seal sticker
Sign as “Sir ______, Knight of ....”
Read aloud in “courtly voice”
Model letter (teacher exemplar)
Most Esteemed Mistress Demdike,
It is of utmost importance that a princess be found of noble birth and gentle spirit.
I humbly request that she be blessed with grace, kindness, and a heart loyal and true.
Should such a maiden be chosen, I vow that she be treated with honour and devotion.
If destiny were to smile upon me, I would cherish my bride for all my days.
Let her be fair of mind and strong of character, and let our future be filled with joy.
Faithfully and respectfully,
Extension challenge:
Include two wishes, one command, and one hypothetical outcome.
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Writing an Origin Myth: Creating a Legend from a Real Place
Curriculum Link:
English Programmes of Study – Writing (KS2):
“Identify the audience and purpose of the writing, selecting the appropriate form and using other similar writing as models for their own.”
“Create settings, characters and plot in narratives.”
“Describe settings, characters and atmosphere, and integrate dialogue to convey character and advance the action.”
“Use a wide range of devices to build cohesion within and across paragraphs.”
In The Best-Kept Secret, a real historical figure and a recognisable landscape are reimagined into a new myth, blending fact and folklore to explain something familiar in a magical way. In this activity, students will follow the same process: choosing a real place, object, or feature near their school and creating a myth to explain its origin.
This could be a crooked tree, an odd-shaped building, a pond that never dries out, or a road with a strange name. The more ordinary the starting point, the more powerful the myth.
Pupils will write a short narrative that includes:
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A setting based on somewhere they know
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A magical event, character, or consequence
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A resolution that reveals how the legend shaped the place they see today
This activity helps pupils understand the building blocks of mythology and how stories grow from real landscapes, questions, and human imagination
Download the Myth Planning Template
Optional Extension: Museum Label for a Mythical Artefact (Non-narrative writing)
Once pupils have created their myth, they can imagine that an object from the story has been discovered years later and is now on display in a museum. They will draw their artefact and write a museum label that explains what the object is, what it was used for, and why it matters in the legend.
A great way to practise informative writing with a creative twist.
Download the Mythical Artefact Template
Optional Extension: Tell the Tale (Oral storytelling)
Encourage pupils to bring their myth to life as a performance piece, just like ancient storytellers. They can work individually or in groups, adding gesture, sound effects, or repetition for impact.
Download the Storyteller’s Prompt Sheet
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Art and Storytelling Activities
Illustrated Myth Map
Curriculum Link:
Art and Design (KS2):
“Improve mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing and painting with a range of materials.”
“Create sketch books to record observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.”
English – Writing (KS2):
“Describe settings, characters and atmosphere in narrative writing.”
“Use layout devices to structure writing and guide the reader.”
Overview:
Pupils create a detailed illustrated map of the setting from their own invented myth, or from The Best-Kept Secret. The map should show key locations — such as magical cottages, towers, forests, or forgotten landmarks — and include hand-drawn symbols, place names, and even paths or hidden areas relevant to their story.
This task helps students visualise their setting, develop spatial awareness in storytelling, and combine artistic and literary skills.
Suggested Elements to Include:
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A compass rose and title
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Mythical landmarks or invented features (e.g. Whispering Woods, Dragon’s Hollow)
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A key or legend to explain symbols
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Descriptive labels or captions
Extension:
Ask pupils to annotate their map with quotes from their story, or write a short paragraph describing the journey through it.
Download: Illustrated Map Template with blank grid and planning prompts
Design a Potion Label from Demdike’s Kitchen
Curriculum Link:
Art and Design (KS2):
“Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.”
English – Writing (KS2):
“Write for different purposes, including imaginary, informative and descriptive writing.”
Overview:
Pupils design a magical potion bottle label inspired by the potions cupboard in The Best-Kept Secret. They create an illustrated label that includes a potion name, ingredients, magical effect, and warnings. Designs can be as creepy, mysterious or funny as they like!
This activity encourages creative thinking, the use of persuasive language, and detailed visual design.
Suggested Elements to Include:
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Potion name and use (e.g. “Moss of Memory”, “Dragon’s Breath Elixir”)
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Ingredients (real or imagined)
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Effects on the user
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Warning or instructions (e.g. “Do not drink after midnight!”)
Extension:
Students write a short backstory about the potion — who made it, when, and what happened when it was used.
Download: Potion Label Template with blank bottle and layout prompts
Create a Dragon Sigil or Banner
Curriculum Link:
Art and Design (KS2):
“Improve mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, colour, pattern and symbolism.”
English – Reading and Writing (KS2):
“Understand how language, including figurative language, vocabulary choice and structure, contributes to meaning.”
Overview:
Pupils create a sigil, crest or flag to represent the dragon "Our Kid" or a creature from their own myth. They will use symbols, shapes, and colour to reflect its personality, origin, or powers. For example, red might show fire or bravery; a spiral might suggest transformation.
This task strengthens visual storytelling, symbolism, and creative interpretation.
Suggested Elements to Include:
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Bold shapes or creature features (claws, wings, tails)
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Colour choices that reflect meaning
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A name or motto (optional)
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A background story to explain the design
Extension:
Turn the sigil into a class display of "Mythical Houses," like dragon families or magical clans.
Download: Sigil/Banner Template with flag outline and design notes
Illustrate & Label a Mythical Artefact
Curriculum Link:
Art and Design (KS2):
“Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.”
“Use drawing and painting to develop and share ideas and imagination.”
English – Writing (KS2):
“Write for different purposes, using imaginative and descriptive language.”
“Organise and present information clearly, using headings and layout devices.”
Overview:
Pupils imagine an object from their myth, or from The Best-Kept Secret that has been discovered and is now part of a museum collection. They will draw and label the object, then write a short description to explain what it is, what it was used for, and its importance to the legend.
It could be a cracked wand, a piece of dragon scale, a soot-stained scroll, or a melted potion bottle. This is a perfect blend of imaginative drawing and purposeful writing, requiring minimal resources
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Suggested Elements to Include:
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A clear, labelled drawing of the artefact
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A short description explaining its role in the myth
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A museum-style heading (e.g. “The Last Candle of Demdike”)
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Extra facts or warnings (“Still warm to the touch on cold mornings.”)
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Extension:
Transform this into a gallery wall or class museum display, combining pupils’ artefacts with their mythological tales.
Download: Mythical Artefact Label & Drawing Template
Reconstruct a Mythical Relic (3D Option)
Curriculum Link:
Art and Design (KS2):
“Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.”
DT / History Link:
“Understand how artefacts help us learn about the past.”
Overview:
Pupils recreate a relic from their invented myth, for example, a dragon’s claw, an enchanted key, a broken pendant, or a mysterious fossil. They can use clay, salt dough, recycled materials or papier-mâché. Once created, each object is displayed with a written label or legend to explain its purpose.
This blends art, storytelling and historical interpretation.
Suggested Materials:
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Clay, foil, cardboard, fabric, found objects
Extension:
Display the items as a class museum of mythical history. Pupils can write labels or act as museum guides.
Download: Relic Tag Template with boxes for object name, use, and story
link
Crime & Punishment Activities
Curriculum Links:
History (KS2):
"A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066 — e.g. crime and punishment."
"Understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources."
Option 1: Write a Plea for Mercy (Persuasive Letter)
Pupils imagine they are Elizabeth Demdike or someone writing on her behalf, a villager, a child, even the dragon itself, and write a letter to the judge asking for mercy.
They must use persuasive language, emotional reasoning, and (fictional) evidence.
Download: Plea for Mercy Template
Option 2: Witch Trial Roleplay & Debate
Set up a mock trial for Elizabeth Demdike - pupils take on roles such as prosecutor, defender, judge, witnesses, and villagers.
Use historical context from the Pendle trials, but allow space to question whether the punishment fits the "crime."
Encourages empathy, critical thinking, and speaking & listening skills.
Download: Trial Role Cards + Courtroom Script Prompts
Option 3: Crime or Compassion? Class Discussion
In The Best-Kept Secret, Elizabeth Demdike is punished for a series of unfortunate mistakes, conjuring a dragon instead of a princess, the baby dragon accidentally setting fire to the castle keep, and taking in a neighbour’s sheep with the very best of intentions, but being accused of theft as a result.
This activity encourages pupils to explore the difference between intent and consequence. Should someone face punishment if their actions were well-meaning, even if the outcome caused trouble?
Run as a conscience alley or small group debate, using ‘for’ and ‘against’ cards to support structured discussion.
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Download the Discussion Prompt Cards
Option 4: Then vs Now – Justice Through the Ages
Pupils explore how Elizabeth Demdike’s fate might have been different today. Would she be seen as a criminal or someone in need of help? How would modern courts respond to the idea of conjuring a dragon?
Pupils create a 'Then vs. Now' comparison — either as a double-page spread or a chart — examining how laws, rights, and public attitudes have evolved over time.
Extension:
Write a short news article reporting the same event twice — once as if it happened in 1612, and once as if it happened today. Would the headlines be different? Would the outcome?
Download the Justice Comparison Template + News Headline Prompt Sheet
These follow-up activities are designed to extend the impact of Sophie’s author visit, showing that the magic of The Best-Kept Secret doesn’t end when the session ends!
More resources are added regularly, so please check back or contact us if you’re looking for something specific.