I can tell and write a short story
with a clear beginning, middle,
and ending, using capitals, spaces,
and periods.
Materials
Short, sharpened pencil
Eraser
Ruled paper (primary lines preferred)
Tracing Pad (below)
Simple picture or memory for a story
Mini-lesson — A story has a beginning, middle, and end
A short story is not just one sentence.
It has three parts that go in order.
Beginning — the start of the story
Who is in the story?
Where are they?
What is happening at the start?
Middle — something happens
A small event or action.
The character does something.
Something changes.
End — how the story finishes
What happens at the end?
How does the character feel now?
Do they go home, rest, or say goodbye?
Think: "Can I tell what happens first,
next, and last in my story?"
Picture strip: "Beginning, middle, ending"
Guided Practice — Story order warm-up
Use this routine to practice story order
before you write your own short story.
Think of a small story:
a time at the park, at home,
or at school.
Say it in three parts:
"In the beginning...",
"In the middle...",
"At the end...".
Trace story words:
On the Tracing Pad, choose a short word
like first, then,
next, or last.
Trace it neatly on the line.
Say a full sentence:
Use your word to say a sentence such as
First I go to the park.,
Then I play.,
or Last I go home.
Plan your own story:
On your paper, think of three lines:
one for the beginning, one for the middle,
and one for the ending.
Check the order:
Read your three ideas. Ask,
"Does this happen first, next, and last?"
Later you can use these three parts
to write a longer story with more detail.
Tracing Pad
Drag & Drop — Put the story in order
Each mini story has a beginning,
a middle, and an ending.
Put the sentences in the right order.
On the device:
Read the three sentences, think about what happens first,
next, and last, and drag each one into the box
for the beginning, middle,
or ending.
On paper:
Choose three stories you finished.
Write the beginning sentence,
the middle sentence,
and the ending sentence
in order on your paper.
Start each sentence with a capital letter
and end it with a period.
Story 1 — A rainy walk
I jump in small puddles.Dark clouds cover the sky.I put on my boots.
Story 2 — My birthday
We eat cake and smile.Today is my birthday.We play games after school.
Story 3 — Lost toy
I find my toy under the chair.I drop my toy on the floor.I look around the room.
Story 4 — At the park
I go home tired and happy.I go to the park.I play on the slide.
Story 5 — Dinner time
We eat dinner together.I help set the table.I say thank you for the meal.
Quick Check — Beginning, middle, and end
Answer each question about story parts
and clear sentences.
This is a gentle 10-question check.
What does a short story need?
What does the beginning of a story tell?
What happens in the middle of a story?
What does a good ending show?
In the rainy story, which sentence is the beginning?
In a three-sentence story, what is the middle sentence usually about?
In the dinner time story, which sentence is a good ending?
Why is it important to put story sentences in order?
How should each sentence in your story begin?
How can you check if your story beginning, middle, and ending sound right?
Next Gen Learning