KS: Lower KS2
Year Group: Year 3
Literary Theme: Hope & resilience
Author(s): Ian Eagleton
This is a Vocabulary Vine for Nen and the Lonely Fisherman by Ian Eagleton
A Vocabulary Vine is designed to be a sister resource to a Writing Root and Spelling Seed. It sits within our wider Teach Through a Text approach by explicitly identifying vocabulary from the book and providing additional opportunities for paired, small group and whole class experimentation with this vocabulary in context. Vocabulary Vines further complement spelling development too through exploration of the morphology (word structure) and etymology (origins) of words. They also provide oracy opportunities through a focus on talk tasks and on oral sentence construction. They are designed for short burst oral and vocabulary development.
A Writing Root is available for A Vocabulary Vine for Nen and the Lonely Fisherman.
Lonely hearts advert character description, thought bubbles, diary entries, message in a bottle setting description
Own version of the narrative with a twist on the original tale
15 sessions, 3 weeks
This three-week Writing Root begins with a treasure chest of mysterious objects which children explore and discuss to support them in making predictions about the story. The sequence of learning continues by exploring the text through a range of tasks which include reading skills, book talk, explicit grammar teaching in context, vocabulary building and shorter written outcomes. Children will make predictions and explore the themes of the text, before developing their understanding of the characters to support them to write a character description in the form of a lonely-hearts advert. They will infer characters’ thoughts and feelings through freeze-framing, thought bubbles and diary entries. Children will also develop their literary bank by exploring how to use language to change atmosphere and create deeper imagery through the use of different descriptive literary techniques. Finally, they will finish by writing their own version of Nen and the Lonely Fisherman, with twists to the original plot and characters and making comparisons to the traditional tale The Little Mermaid.
Nen spends his days exploring his underwater kingdom, but something is missing: his heart is empty. So, Nen ventures to the forbidden world above and it is here that he meets Ernest, a lonely fisherman. But can two people from different worlds be together and what will happen when a terrifying storm gathers?
A lyrical, beautiful celebration of love, acceptance and faith, with a gentle message about how we treat our oceans, and each other.
This picture book paints a beautiful story about love, acceptance and hope. Lyrical language and vivid imagery reflect subtle messages about the state of the world’s oceans and the human impact on the environment, creating links to the science and geography curriculums. An important book for LGBTQIA+ representation, the story also lends itself to discussions around relationships and family.
LGBTQIA+, merfolk, loneliness, companionship, relationships, environment, conservation
Date written: July 2022, Updated: July 2025
View A Vocabulary Vine for Nen and the Lonely Fisherman Writing RootA Spelling Seed is available for A Vocabulary Vine for Nen and the Lonely Fisherman.
This is a three-session spelling seed for the book Nen and the Lonely Fisherman by Ian Eagleton. Below is the coverage from Appendix 1 of the National Curriculum 2014.
Spelling Seeds have been designed to complement Writing Roots by providing weekly, contextualised sequences of sessions for the teaching of spelling that include open-ended investigations and opportunities to practise and apply within meaningful and purposeful contexts, linked (where relevant) to other areas of the curriculum and a suggestion of how to extend the investigation into home learning.
There is a Spelling Seed session for every week of the associated Writing Root.
through, different, heard, perhaps, heart, believe
The /i/sound spelt y elsewhere than at the end of a word
Homophones and other words that are often confused
View A Vocabulary Vine for Nen and the Lonely Fisherman Spelling Seed
