---
title: "Planning Ideas Before Writing"
description: "Plan before writing by saying aloud or noting down what will be written, writing down ideas and key words, and encapsulating ideas sentence by sentence before composing"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/planning-ideas-before-writing-mt_9P9o6d0Qm3
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/planning-ideas-before-writing-mt_9P9o6d0Qm3.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Planning Ideas Before Writing

Plan before writing by saying aloud or noting down what will be written, writing down ideas and key words, and encapsulating ideas sentence by sentence before composing

Subject: English · Area: Writing Composition · Ages 6 to 10
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/planning-ideas-before-writing-mt_9P9o6d0Qm3

## Ready when they can

- Verbally rehearse sentences before writing them down
- Jot key words or ideas in a planning format (e.g., story map) before drafting
- Write a simple plan with beginning, middle, and end for a story

## Lesson: Planning Before You Write

Before you write, stop and think first. Planning means deciding what you want to say before your pencil touches the paper. It makes your writing clearer, and you cross out less.

*(drawing: A story map has three boxes: what happens first, what happens next, and what happens last.)*

**Example.** Mia wants to write about her trip to the park. Before she starts, she jots down a few words: swings, ice cream, lost my hat. Then she writes her story using those words to remember her ideas.

**Tip.** Your plan does not need full sentences. A few key words are enough to jog your memory later. You can also say your idea out loud once before you jot it down.

**Recap.** Plan first: say your idea, jot a few key words, and lay out a beginning, middle, and end.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Describing Aloud](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/describing-aloud-mt_4A7FYmvVhA)
- [Organising Writing into Paragraphs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/organising-writing-into-paragraphs-mt_AvJMWQbDsr)
- [Building Writing Stamina](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/building-writing-stamina-mt_lIs10UMkPG)
- [Simple Stories with Beginning and Ending](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/simple-stories-with-beginning-and-ending-mt_nDAcXoPa0c)
- [Writing Process Vocabulary](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/writing-process-vocabulary-mt_o8ciHks8t2)
- [Saying Sentences Before Writing Them](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/saying-sentences-before-writing-them-mt_PJyCGJz5Hv)

## Opens up

- [Writing for an audience](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/writing-for-an-audience-mt_cB7hV8sw7X)
- [Drawing conclusions from evidence (age 9+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/drawing-conclusions-from-evidence-age-9-mt_nyPMkeHlVJ)
- [Choosing Form and Tone for Your Audience](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/choosing-form-and-tone-for-your-audience-mt_v5DyOEpbbr)