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Set the Stage
Amusement Park Unit | Lesson 2 of 5
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Set the Stage

Amusement Park Unit | Lesson 2 of 5
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DISCUSS:
What do you notice about the start of this film?
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DISCUSS:
What is something Eli could be doing at the amusement park when the story
begins?
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Step
01/16
Get your supplies.
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Step
02/16
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
03/16
Get your story arc from the last lesson. Take turns telling your
partner how your story will go from beginning to end. If you want,
you can make changes to your story arc.
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Step
04/16
On your story arc, write in "lead" here. This is the part that you’ll
write first.
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Step
05/16
Get your Story Beginning worksheet. Copy the name of your
character and the setting onto your worksheet.
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Step
06/16
Watch this video. Write some ideas of what your character could be
doing in the action section. You can write more than one idea.
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Step
07/16
Listen to the sounds of an amusement park. Write some ideas of
sounds you could include in your writing here.
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Step
08/16
Share with your partner the actions and sounds that you want to
include in the lead of your story. If you wrote more than one idea,
circle the ones you want to include.
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Step
09/16
Right now, we’re just working on the lead. We’ll write about what your
character wants in the next steps. Write your lead starting at the
arrow.
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Step
10/16
If you have dialogue in your lead, check to make sure it has quotation
marks, a comma, and a tag.
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DISCUSS:
What do you notice this boy does when he sees something he wants?
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Step
11/16
Copy what your character wants into the gray box on your Story Beginning worksheet.
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Step
12/16
Discuss with your partner: What will your character do when they
notice what they want?
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Step
13/16
Write what your character will do when they notice what they want
here. You can use these ideas, or come up with your own.
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Step
14/16
Now think of some sounds. Write what your character will say or
what sound they will make when they see what they want here.
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Step
15/16
Next, you’ll work on writing the part of your story that shows what
your character wants. Don't write about the obstacle yet. We’ll do
that in the next lesson. Begin writing at the arrow.
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Step
16/16
Amazing job, writers! Readers will be able to picture your story just
like you imagined it. Make sure you put your VIPs somewhere safe.
I’ll see you next time.
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🎉 That’s it for this lesson! How did it go?
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Grade 4

Narrative

Beginning a Story

L.4.2B, W.4.3B

9 reviews

Students will...

Print Prep
  • plan a lead for their story that will introduce the reader to the character and the setting.

  • use action and sound or dialogue to bring the reader into the world of the story.

  • use action and dialogue to demonstrate what their character wants in the story.

Before this lesson...

Students should have completed Lesson 1 of this unit.
Number of students:
Amusement Park Story Beginning worksheet 30 copies
Story Arc from previous lesson
30

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES

Word Bank from previous lesson
30
Prep Instructions
  • Students will need to bring their completed work from the previous lessons to this lesson.

  • We recommend reviewing student story arcs before this lesson to check for school appropriateness.

  • Students will need to draft two parts of their story arc. If you prefer to split this lesson over two days, we recommend pausing after step 10 when students have finished writing their lead but before they introduce their character’s desire.

Introduction

10 mins

Writing Activity

30 mins

Grade 4

Narrative

Beginning a Story

L.4.2B, W.4.3B

9 reviews

Extend this lesson

Reading

Activity

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Credits