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Plan your Story
Amusement Park Unit | Lesson 1 of 5
Back > Share

Plan your Story

Amusement Park Unit | Lesson 1 of 5
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DISCUSS:
What is a short story that could happen at a giant slide?
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DISCUSS:
What do you think could be a problem that stops Eli from going down the giant
slide?
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DISCUSS:
How do you think Eli could solve the problem in the story?
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DISCUSS:
What do you think Eli learned from this experience?
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Step
01/15
Get your supplies.
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Step
02/15
In today’s lesson, you’ll need someone to share ideas with. This could
be a partner or someone you sit near. When everyone knows who
their talk partner is, move on to the next step.
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Step
03/15
Come up with the name and age for your main character and write
them here. You can always change your character’s name later.
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Step
04/15
Draw a quick sketch of your character.
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Step
05/15
Share with your partner: What does your character want?
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Step
06/15
Write a few words about what your character wants in this box.
You can use your word bank to help find ideas too.
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Step
07/15
Decide what the obstacle will be in your story, and write your idea
in this box.
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Step
08/15
Share with your partner your ideas for your character, what your
character wants, and the obstacle in their way. You can change
parts of your plan if you want.
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Step
09/15
Share with your partner: How will your character overcome the
obstacle and get what they want?
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Step
10/15
Write a few words in the box describing how your character
overcomes the obstacle.
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Step
11/15
Discuss with your partner: What could your character learn from
their experience in your story?
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Step
12/15
Write what your character learned in this box. Remember, you can
change it later if you want.
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Step
13/15
Take turns with your partner talking through your entire story arc
from beginning to end. You can change parts of your story arc if
you want.
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Step
14/15
The papers shown on the screen are VIPs: Very Important Papers!
Your teacher will tell you where to put them so you will have them
for the next lesson.
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Step
15/15
Next time, you’ll start drafting your story. That’s all for now. I’ll see
you next time.
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🎉 That’s it for this lesson! How did it go?

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Lesson details

Grade 4

Narrative

Story Planning

W.4.3A

33 reviews

Students will...

Print Prep
  • create a story arc plan for an upcoming piece of fiction writing set at an amusement park

  • come up with a character and what the character wants in the story.

  • determine an obstacle for the character and how they will overcome the obstacle.

  • come up with a life lesson or character realization to end the story.

Before this lesson...

Amusement Park Story Arc worksheet 30 copies
Word Bank (Amusement Park) worksheet 30 copies
Prep Instructions
  • We suggest teachers make sure each student has a designated location (such as a folder) to store papers between lessons.

  • Each worksheet in this unit will be used across multiple lessons. These worksheets are labeled as VIPs (Very Important Papers).

  • We recommend reviewing student story arcs either during this lesson or after this lesson to check for school appropriateness. Ideas are suggested in the lesson, but students are encouraged to use their imaginations and come up with their own ideas for a story. Some students may need guidance around what topics are appropriate to include in a story that will be read by classmates.

  • We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students can work on their own.

Jump to

Introduction

15 mins

Writing Activity

30 mins

Lesson details

Grade 4

Narrative

Story Planning

W.4.3A

33 reviews

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Amusement Park Lesson 1: Plan your Story

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