Simple stories with a beginning and an ending
Write simple narratives by sequencing sentences to describe events in order; narrate a single event or linked events with a beginning, middle, and ending or reaction
What a learner can do afterwards
- Write a short story with at least three sequenced sentences
- Use time words like 'first', 'then', 'next' to order events
- Include a reaction or ending to a narrative (e.g. 'I felt happy')
1 · Read
You have practised saying a sentence before writing it. Now put sentences together to tell a short story. Our plan has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Tell what happened first and next. Finish with an ending that fits the events. It can tell what happened last or how someone felt about it.
Order words help readers follow the events. First shows the start. Then and next show an event that comes after another event. Last shows the final event. Put the events in the order they happened. Adding order words can make that order clearer.
First, Mia found a red leaf. Then, she found a yellow leaf. Last, she smiled and felt happy. Happy and sad name feelings. This ending tells how Mia felt after finding the leaves.
For this story plan, write at least three sentences. Say each sentence aloud before writing it. To count the sentences in these short stories, find each full stop. Each full stop ends one sentence. Count each sentence once.
To put story events in order, find what happened first, next, and last. Keep each event once. Bo filled a cup, drank the water, then washed the cup. His story should tell about filling the cup, drinking the water, then washing the cup. Check your sentences against that order and move any sentence that is out of place.
Say your sentences, then write the events in order. Add an ending that fits what happened.
The lesson, practice questions and flashcards were written for this learning dataset.
Two ways to finish a story was written for this learning dataset.
More to read
Two ways to finish a story
Nia cannot find her toy rabbit. She looks behind a chair. Then she finds it in her bag.
Nia could finish her story with an action: 'At last, I found my rabbit.' She could also finish with a feeling about it: 'I felt glad to have my rabbit back.'
Both endings fit the search for the rabbit. A sentence about eating lunch would start a different event.
Say a short story aloud. Tell the start and what happens next. Choose a final action or a feeling that fits. Then write your sentences in order.
2 · Watch
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Where it sits
Optional connections
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.