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Narrative

Introduction Unit 1: Amusement Park Related Skills

Pre-Assessment

4th Playground Stories

Writing Activity

Standards Aligned

Lesson 1

Story Planning

4th Plan your Story

Writing Activity

Standards Aligned

Lesson 2

Beginning a Story

4th Set the Stage

Writing Activity

Standards Aligned

Lesson 3

Transition Words & Phrases

4th Add some SPEED

Writing Activity

Standards Aligned

Lesson 4

Story Endings

4th Wrap it Up

Writing Activity

Standards Aligned

Lesson 5

Editing & Sharing

4th Share your Story

Writing Activity

Standards Aligned

Post-Assessment

4th Sports Stories

Writing Activity

Standards Aligned

About this Unit

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In this unit, students write a short story for a classroom short story festival. They plan using a story arc, and draft the story using dialogue, action, emotions, and transition words. Lastly, they edit their writing and share with their classmates.

Standards

L.4.2B
W.4.3
W.4.3A
W.4.3B
W.4.3C
W.4.3E
W.4.4
W.4.5

Pre-Assessment: Pre-Assessment

Pre-Assessment

complete a miniature writing process.

plan a short story using a graphic organizer.

write a short story that takes place on a playground.

have their writing evaluated according to teacher rubrics and student self-assessment.

Number of students:

Amusement Park: Pre-Assessment worksheet	30 copies
Amusement Park: Student Checklist worksheet	30 copies
Amusement Park: Teacher Rubric worksheet	30 copies

Prep Instructions

This activity can be used as a way to see student progress before the unit begins. This activity can also be used as a practice activity if not scored.

The standards-based Teacher Rubric for the pre- and post-assessment is the same. Try this: Score student pre-assessments in one color on the rubric. Use a different color on the same rubric to score the post-assessment later on. A quick glance will show student growth and areas for further support.

The Student Checklist for the pre- and post-assessment is the same and can be used as a student self-assessment to guide revision or to set future writing goals.

Lesson 1: Story Planning

Story Planning

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.

Number of students:

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.

Lesson 2: Beginning a Story

Beginning a Story

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.

Number of students:

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES
Amusement Park Story Beginning worksheet	30 copies
Story Arc from previous lesson	30
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.

Lesson 3: Transition Words & Phrases

Transition Words & Phrases

write the middle of their story where the character encounters and then overcomes the obstacle.

use transition words and phrases to tell the story in order.

use transition phrases to adjust the speed of events in the story.

Number of students:

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES
Amusement Park Story Middle worksheet	30 copies
Transition Phrases worksheet	30 copies
Story Arc from previous lesson	30
Story Beginning from previous lesson	30
Word Bank from previous lesson	30

Prep Instructions

Students will need to bring their completed work from the previous lessons to this lesson.

This lesson is separated into two parts and can be taught in two different sessions if needed. A natural stopping point is included after students write about how their character encounters the obstacle, but before they write about how the character overcomes the obstacle.

Lesson 4: Story Endings

Story Endings

use character thoughts and feelings to make characters feel real.

choose an emotion and a small action to end their story.

Number of students:

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES
Amusement Park Story End worksheet	30 copies
Sticky Notes	90
Story Arc from previous lesson	30
Story Beginning from previous lesson	30
Story Middle from previous lesson	30
Word Bank from previous lesson	30

Prep Instructions

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 6 when students have finished writing their success but before they write what their character learned.

We recommend using sticky notes when adding full sentences in revision. If you have revision strips or another method for students to add sentences in the middle of their writing, feel free to substitute those instead.

Lesson 5: Editing & Sharing

Editing & Sharing

edit their writing for punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and usage.

recopy their story onto a final copy, either by hand or digitally.

make a title tent with a picture to represent their story.

share their story in a gallery walk for Storyfest.

Number of students:

Amusement Park Final Story worksheet	30 copies
Amusement Park Final Story (digital) worksheet Choose either this digital version or the printable version above.	30 copies
Story Fest Title Tent worksheet	30 copies
Story Beginning from previous lesson	30
Story End from previous lesson	30
Story Middle from previous lesson	30

Prep Instructions

Students will need to bring their completed work from the previous lessons to this lesson.

This lesson is separated into two parts and can be taught in two different sessions if needed. A natural stopping point is included after students edit, but before they share at Storyfest.

This is a generic editing lesson and can be reused when students are ready to edit any piece of writing.

If time does not allow for recopying, students can edit their first draft and assemble their final draft without recopying their writing. If you choose not to have students recopy, no additional printouts are required for this lesson.

Post-Assessment: Post-Assessment

Post-Assessment

complete a miniature writing process.

plan a short story using a graphic organizer.

write a short story about a character playing a sport.

have their writing evaluated according to teacher rubrics and student self-assessment.

Number of students:

Amusement Park: Post-Assessment worksheet	30 copies
Amusement Park: Student Checklist worksheet	30 copies
Amusement Park: Teacher Rubric worksheet	30 copies

Prep Instructions

This activity can be used as a way to see student progress after the unit ends. This activity can also be used as a practice activity if not scored.

The standards-based Teacher Rubric for the pre- and post-assessment is the same. Try this: Score student pre-assessments in one color on the rubric. Use a different color on the same rubric to score the post-assessment later on. A quick glance will show student growth and areas for further support.

The Student Checklist for the pre- and post-assessment is the same and can be used as a student self-assessment to guide revision or to set future writing goals.

Narrative

Amusement Park

Pre-Assessment

4th Playground Stories

Story Planning

4th Plan your Story

Beginning a Story

4th Set the Stage

Transition Words & Phrases

4th Add some SPEED

Story Endings

4th Wrap it Up

Editing & Sharing

4th Share your Story

Post-Assessment

4th Sports Stories

About this Unit

Pre-Assessment: Pre-Assessment

Pre-Assessment

Lesson 1: Story Planning

Story Planning

Lesson 2: Beginning a Story

Beginning a Story

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES

Lesson 3: Transition Words & Phrases

Transition Words & Phrases

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES

Lesson 4: Story Endings

Story Endings

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES

Lesson 5: Editing & Sharing

Editing & Sharing

Post-Assessment: Post-Assessment

Post-Assessment

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