Lesson plan
Exploring the Narrative
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to describe the main parts of a plot.
- Students will be able to identify different kinds of narratives and the key features of a narrative.
Introduction
(5 minutes)
- Facilitate a Know, Want to Know, Learned (KWL) process with the topic: narratives.
- Write KWL on the board, 'K for Know, W for Want to Know and L for Learned.'
- Ask students what they know about narratives, noting their responses and ideas under each category.
- Ask them what they want to know, and explain that at the end you will come back to this and discuss what they learned.
Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling
(10 minutes)- Connect any of the ideas shared in the opening activity with the idea that narrative is a broad genre. Explain that any story is a narrative but there are many kinds of stories.
- Distribute the What is a Narrative? Kinds of Narratives worksheet.
- Follow the directions on the sheet to create a map of the different genres that narratives can fall under.
- Make connections to other discussions your class has had about genres.
Guided Practice
(10 minutes)- Explain that stories all have similar elements or features. Some of the terms in the next activity they’ll surely be familiar with and some will likely be new.
- Project the What is a Narrative? Key Features worksheet.
- Review each of the terms in the box at the top. Discuss each term as a group, making connections to stories you have read together as a class.
Independent working time
(10 minutes)- Distribute the What is a Narrative? Key Features worksheet.
- Assign students to complete this sheet independently or with a partner.
- Review the answers as a class when all students have finished.
Differentiation
Support
- Complete the exercise as a class as you review it in Guided Practice/Modeling.
Enrichment
- Have students use the Diagramming the Plot of a Story worksheet to examine the plot of a story they have recently read.
Assessment
(10 minutes)- Have students complete the Understanding Plot by Creating Your Own Story worksheet to apply their knowledge of plot terms to a simple story of their own.
Review and closing
(5 minutes)- Come back to the KWL that you started with. Ask students to share some things they learned about narratives in this lesson.
Related learning resources
What is a Narrative? Key Features
Worksheet
What is a Narrative? Key Features
In this activity, students will consider the key features of a narrative, such as plot, setting, rising action, and characters.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Writing Instructions
Worksheet
Writing Instructions
Help your child learn to write clearly and concisely by writing her own set of "how to" instructions.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Organization in Writing
Worksheet
Organization in Writing
This template guides children through the pre-writing process as they prepare to write about a special day, adventure, or experience.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Writing Workshop: Everyday Writing
Worksheet
Writing Workshop: Everyday Writing
Let your young writer relax by practicing writing notes to friends, journal entries, and even a grocery list!
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
