Teaching Writing: Children

Lesson 2: Teaching Narration

Practice

Narrative Elements in Books

One way to introduce these elements is to choose a simple children's book to read to the class. Don't worry if you are teaching upper grade students. The purpose of this exercise is to outline the story elements, so even a simple story will do. Begin by reading the story to the class. Then, on your chart, brainstorm a story map detailing the elements that were found in that story. Here is an example of a simple story map. You can make yours more or less detailed depending upon the level of your students.

Next, create a whole class story map. Choose a broad topic such as what the class did that morning, or what they will be doing at recess. On the chart, have students delineate the characters, the setting, the problem, and several events that lead to the solution. Add your own ideas to the chart if they miss an important detail. Then demonstrate how the ideas on the map can be combined into a narrative.

Finally, have students create their own story maps. You may want to specify that they choose to detail a real event first as that is often easier for students to conceptualize. The "When I..." topic is a good, open ended one to use for first narratives. And be sure to help students avoid the "And then..., and then..., and then..." syndrome by talking about transition words. Once your students have gotten good at telling a cohesive story about a real event, they are ready to move on to fictional works. In either case, be sure to have them detail each element of the story.

After the story maps are completed, students will be ready to write their narratives.

Telling a Story

Another way to get your students thinking about narration and its elements is to ask them to simply tell a story. Begin by modeling the process for your students. Choose a childhood event that you found to be memorable. Tell the students about that event - when it happened, where it happened, what happened, and how you felt about it. Make your own narrative about 3 minutes long. Then, have the students help you to identify the narrative elements and record them on your chart. Ask them to help you remember who the characters were, where the narrative took place, and what problems and solutions you encountered.

Next, give your students one of these prompts to think about and then have various class members just tell their story about these ideas, just as you did:

1. Childhood Event

2. First Day of School

3. Summer Vacation

As students tell their stories, have classmates keep track of the various story elements for discussion.

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