Flourishing in 2023

A sizzling start is a punchy and exciting opening within a narrative that grabs the readers attention. Sizzling starts are essential to crafting engaging narratives as they drop the reader right in the middle of the action and do not allow them to get bored or stop reading.

Enjoy a selection of sizzling starts from the 5/6 learning space.

Pew, Pew! The laser gun narrowly misses my face casting a blue flickering light, just skimming me at the speed of light. The figure who was shooting the laser gun comes closer and in a deep voice he yells. Bang! Mrs. Pan slaps my desk making me jump and awaken. ‘Emily Smith. Who is the main character in the story we have been reading?’ Snaps Mrs Pan. I scan the room seeing if any of my peers will give me any clues but everyone is either staring or giggling. Then I see a book on Mrs Pan's desk and on the cover it reads ALICE IN WONDERLAND. I quickly slide out " Alice. Alice is the main character." Impressive for a person who spent the whole lesson snoozing. One strike says Mrs Pan sternly.                                                                                                                       Matilda

I wonder why my pockets have been emptied of money and filled with a phone that contains two numbers. The sullen grey sidewalk fills my view but I can only pay attention to my throbbing head, thoughts racing through my mind as fast as lightning. The sudden buzz in my pocket stops me in my tracks. I look at the number and my eyes well up with tears. I put the phone to my ear and yelled "GIVE THEM BACK!" My voice shattering every word I had ever spoken, every thought, every memory, and crushing it into a ball the size of a paper clip. Once I get home I wipe my tears with a tissue. I take a look at the calendar and see the date 23rd of March, 2006. Three months since my family was taken, and in three months time if I don't cough up another 300 thousand dollars.... I will never see them again. A letter appears at my doorstep that has my name on it, Micheal Smith. I pick it up and rip it into shreds with all my strength and throw it into the trash.                           Lachie H

SLAM!  My bedroom door slams shut. I get up from the couch and run upstairs. Just before I open the door I hear a massive "SMASH!" I swing the door open to see my room has been completely trashed and robbed. I turn towards the window and see that there is shattered glass everywhere. I also see the intruder running. I sprint down stairs, get the car keys and get in my car. I start chasing the robber. I speed and I catch up to the mystery intruder. They trip over and I jump out of my car. He gets back up and is gone at the speed of light. I leap into my car and the robber is not in sight anymore. I drive around a few blocks but he is nowhere to be seen.                                                                                    Elizabeth

Where I live there are no multi million dollar mansions or fountains so large you can swim in them or  buildings so tall they can almost touch the clouds. Instead not houses, more shacks, so tightly compacted they are practically leaning on each other for support. Streets so narrow and so littered  with trash bags it's like a buffet for the rats who scurry the streets around here. My house is no different. My house has broken windows and holes in the roof that makes us all dread the rain.                                                           Summer

Waaaaa!  That was so close, I screamed over the crowd ‘Lets gooo!’ Dad gives me the thumbs up and gives me the biggest hug of his life. I'm literally off the ground. Dad was as strong as an ox. Collingwood have made the Grand Final.                                            Sonny K

RING! RING!  Can Lucy B please come up to the office thank you,’ said the office lady. "You're in trouble, you're in big trouble," says the echoing of the class. I walk up to the office biting my tongue with a bright red tomato face. "What has your mysterious behavior made you do today, Lucy?" says Anne, the front desk lady.  She acts like I'm always coming to the office everyday. Sadly, she was right. Everyday I come home and tell my parents about  my behaviour and get in big trouble. but they will not be able to hear about me getting in trouble anymore. I’ve been expelled.                                                                    Raine

BAAAAAAAAAAAAM!!!  The Siren sounds ‘Yessssss!’ I screamed at the top of my lungs. We had won the prelim by a point. Those umpies were blind as a bat, but who cares. The orange boys from GWS can't stop us. We're off to the granny. WOO HOO!.                 Sammi

BOOM!!  "AHH!’ I hear people screaming and yelling. "Get up," yells mum. I can hear the tension in her voice.I immediately get up and go over to Emily and Josh's beds and start shaking them frantically. Both of them get up. I go and grab my suitcase and Emily's and Josh's.I go look out the window and it is chaos. People running and screaming like headless chickens. I go into the kitchen and ask mum what just happened. "A boom just went off" said mum in a  wobbly and weary voice. "Where's dad?"I ask. "He's packing up," says mum. "Why?" I ask "The boom. We have to leave and now it's not safe any longer" cried mum.                                                                                                                                Tahlia

I opened my eyes to find I was in an unrecognisable place. I got up from the stone cold concrete of the pathway to find I am on my own. I tried to find my phone so I could contact my auntie Becca. It wasn't in any of my pockets, I need to get back home before Y2k happens. But, before that I need to get money, fast.                                                    Renee

' Why are you not working on the panels?' shouts a voice. The words startle me. I awake and jump to my feet then I drop my wallet down into the chemical facilities exhaust pipe. 'sorry Bosar ' I say frightened and exhausted, then a sudden smell of smoke rises.  Jack

"Set, go! I run. Not for something or from someone but something far more important. There are people behind me but they are not chasing me and I am not running from them. It is for something I need. Indeed ‘money,’ just repeats in my head over and over again. I need to pick the right path to go. Do I take the  safe path or the one that will give me a greater chance to win? ‘Win,’ I say to myself. That is my final chance. I am scared, but it is the right choice .                                                                                                                     Isabelle

I step through our worn down door. "Lexi?" It's my brother Felix calling me. "Felix? Are you ok?" "Lexi! I'm here!" He can't be left here alone in this state. He's too weak.I can't believe that my sister Cleo would do this. I rush through the archway and dart around a corner, which just nicks my shoulder. ‘Owww.’ I cry out in pain. I hurry through the dining room.  "Lexi?" Felix sounds weak. I approach his door, heart hammering in my chest. "CREAK" the door swings open. Felix isn't there, and instead stands the last person I want to see right now. Cleo.                                                                                                                       Anneke

"SHH," I whisper. Amber creeks open the gate. We walk quietly, with only the moonlight to guide us. We put our belongings down as we creep to the pool. I feel chills as two hands are placed on my back. I hear muffled laughter as Bang!  I plummet into the ice cold water hitting my head on the  bottom of the pool. Everything goes blurry, and I no longer know what way is up and what way is down. As I slowly start to zone out I take in my last breath of air, swallowing water and everything goes black.                                                     Pia