Lesson 15: Create a story from real life

✍️ WRITING (40 Lessons) • 🟠 B. Personal Narratives

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Objective

I can plan and write a personal narrative (6–8 sentences) about a real event using first person, time order words, vivid details, and a closing that tells why it mattered.

Materials

Tip: Use Beginning → Middle → End. Add one line of dialogue and one show-not-tell detail.

Mini-lesson — Turn a real event into a story

  1. Beginning: Who, where, and when. Hook the reader.
  2. Middle: What happened in order (first, next, then). Add feelings and dialogue.
  3. End: How it was solved or finished, and why it mattered.
  4. Show, don’t tell: Use senses and action words (my hands shook, the whistle blew).
  5. First person: Use I, me, my to tell your story.

Guided Practice — Trace & plan your narrative

Trace these words, then draft a real-life story (6–8 sentences) about a time you overcame a challenge:

  • Key words: first, next, then, finally, because, felt, said
  • Example outline:
    1. Beginning: I tried to ride a bike without training wheels at the park.
    2. Middle: First I wobbled; next I fell; then Dad said, “Look ahead!” I kept trying.
    3. End: Finally I glided across the path. I felt proud because I didn’t give up.
Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print
Tip: Add one line of dialogue with quotation marks and a tag (“Look ahead!” Dad said.)

Drag & Drop — Build Clear Narrative Sentences

Drag the chips into the slots to form strong narrative sentences using time order and details.

OnSaturdayafternoonIwenttotheparktopracticeriding.
FirstIwobbledandalmosttippedover.
NextDadsaid“Lookahead!”andIgrippedthehandles.
ThenthewindrushedpastmyearsasIpedaledfaster.
BecauseIkeptpracticingIfinallyglidedacrossthepath.
Mylegsshookalittlebutmysmilestretchedwide.
IfeltproudbecauseIdidnotgiveup.
Finallywecelebratedwithcoldwaterandhighfives.
Mystoryshowsabeginningamiddleandanend.
Timeorderwordshelpreadersfollowwhathappenednext.
Dialogueneedsquotationmarksandaspeakingtag.
Astrongclosingtellswhytheeventmatteredtome.

Quick Check (15 questions)

1) Which is a personal narrative?

2) Which uses first person?

3) Best time order words:

4) Which sentence shows, not tells?

5) What belongs in the beginning?

6) Correctly punctuated dialogue:

7) Which helps the middle?

8) Strong closing line:

9) Which sentence is off topic?

10) Which best fixes a run-on?

11) Which sentence uses a dialogue tag?

12) Best hook for the beginning:

13) Which is a time order word?

14) Which line tells why it mattered?

15) Which is first person?

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

I will practice…

Lesson 16 →