Adventures at the Zoo Imaginative Letter Writing Assessment: Year 2 is a playful and purposeful writing task that invites students to recount an exciting zoo adventure in the form of a letter. Using a visual prompt, planning sheet and structured writing template, students will imagine a surprising or unusual day at the zoo and share it with a friend through expressive, first-person writing.

This activity develops narrative writing skills through the lens of personal letter writing, supporting sequencing, descriptive language, and correct use of punctuation, spelling and grammar. With an emphasis on voice and personal reaction, this format allows students to creatively reflect on their experiences while building foundational literacy skills.

The included rubric, aligned with Year 2 Australian Curriculum outcomes, offers a clear framework for assessing student progress. Editable templates allow for differentiation and flexible classroom use, making this resource ideal for assessment, reporting or creative extension activities.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Plan, draft and edit an imaginative letter using a visual prompt
• ✅ Apply narrative structure to a letter format with a clear beginning, middle and end
• ✅ Use descriptive and emotive language to express ideas, events and reactions
• ✅ Demonstrate correct punctuation, grammar and spelling
• ✅ Develop a personal voice through first-person storytelling

What’s Included:

• Visual prompt strip (in both colour and black-and-white)
• Planning template for organising ideas
• Letter-style writing template
• Assessment rubric aligned with Year 2 Australian Curriculum outcomes
• Editable versions of all templates for flexible use
• Versions available in our basic fun font and all Australian state fonts

Materials Needed:

• Printed templates
• Pencils or coloured pens
• Optional: anchor charts showing letter structure or example phrases

How to Use:

• Begin with a class discussion about a zoo visit or animals students might encounter
• Support students in brainstorming and organising their narrative ideas using the planning sheet
• Guide students to write their imaginative letter with clear sequencing and descriptive details
• Encourage peer sharing and support revision for punctuation, grammar and spelling
• Use the included rubric to assess writing skills and narrative structure

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during a narrative writing or animals unit as a summative task
• 💡 Display finished letters as a class zoo adventure showcase
• 💡 Include in writing portfolios or assessment folders for parent interviews

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Model a sample letter to highlight structure, voice and punctuation
• 💛 Use vocabulary charts with adjectives, animal names and feelings
• 💛 Encourage illustrations to accompany each letter for a visual storytelling element

Adventures at the Zoo Imaginative Letter Writing Assessment: Year 2 offers a fun and flexible way to strengthen narrative skills while capturing creativity and personal expression through letter writing.