Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to identify and describe the five parts of a story: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. The student will also create their own short story that includes each of these parts.

Materials and Prep

• Paper
• Pencil or pen
• Coloring materials (crayons, markers, etc.)
• Timer (optional)

Before the lesson, it's helpful to have a quiet space where the student can focus. Make sure they are familiar with basic story concepts like characters and settings.

Activities

• Story Part Identification: Start by reading a favorite short story or fairy tale together. As you read, pause at different points to discuss which part of the story you are in. Ask questions like, "Is this the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, or resolution?"

• Story Map Creation: Have the student draw a story map that outlines the five parts of a story. Each section can be represented with a picture and a few words. Encourage creativity in how they illustrate each part!

• Personal Story Writing: Ask the student to write their own short story using the five parts. They can use prompts like "A day at the zoo" or "An adventure in space." Set a timer for 20 minutes to encourage focused writing.

• Story Sharing Time: Once the stories are written, have a storytelling session where the student reads their story aloud. Discuss how they incorporated the five parts and what they enjoyed most about writing it.

Talking Points

• "Every story has a beginning, middle, and end. The introduction is where we meet the characters and setting."
• "The rising action builds excitement. It's where the problems start to happen!"
• "The climax is the most exciting part of the story. It's like the peak of a roller coaster!"
• "After the climax, we have the falling action. This is where things start to settle down."
• "Finally, the resolution wraps everything up. It tells us how the story ends."
• "Can you think of a story you love? Let's find the five parts together!"
• "Drawing a map of your story helps you see how it all fits together!"
• "Writing your own story is a fun way to practice! What adventure will you create?"
• "When you share your story, you get to be the storyteller! How does that feel?"
• "Remember, every great story has these five parts, but you can be as creative as you want!"