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Picture Prompt: Squirrel
In this story starter, a picture of a squirrel surrounded by falling leaves prompts students to think of a story idea. Students can then write the story, practicing a beginning, middle, and ending. The worksheet includes a word box area...
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Picture Prompt: Dolphin Games
Kids who love dolphins will get a kick out of this prompt, which includes a picture of two dolphins playing with a beach ball. Using the picture for inspiration, students complete the beginning, middle, and ending of the story. A text...
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Picture Prompt: Bunnies
An excellent Easter or springtime activity, this prompt includes a picture of bunnies by a meadow, inspiring students to write a story based on the picture. Teachers can includes words from a spelling or vocabulary list in the text box...
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Picture Prompts: Arctic Hares
Prompted by a picture of two white arctic hares, students complete the story based on their own creative ideas. This writing template could couple with a winter unit, an animal unit, or even as simple writing practice. A text box allows...
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Picture Prompt: Squirrel and Skunk
This story starter provides students with a picture of a skunk and a squirrel, which they can use to write a story. The title, beginning, middle, and ending is up to the student. Additionally, the worksheet includes a text box for...
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Picture Prompt: Reindeer by Cottage
Given a picture of reindeer by a snowy cottage, students begin and complete a story that is inspired by the picture prompt. Teachers can add desired words in a word box before printing.
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Picture Prompt: Elf at the North Pole Village
Great during the Christmas season, this prompt gives students a picture of an elf in the North Pole Village to inspire students to begin and end the story. A word box provides teachers the opportunity to add words from a spelling or...
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Picture Prompt: Birds and Kite
A cute illustration of two birds looking at a kite from their nest helps students to think of a topic for their story, which they can title, begin, and end. A text box allows teachers to provide words from a spelling or vocabulary list...
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Writing Potions
In this creative writing worksheet, students use the prompt to write a creative short story. Students write about their experiences after drinking an invisibility potion.
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Snowman in Winter Sequence Writing
Young scholars develop a creative snowman using step-by-step stickers. They write a short story about the snowman they have created, explaining the sequence they used to create their snowman. Students present their completed story in...
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Drafting
Students engage in the writing process. In this drafting lesson, students research different types of genres to find which they enjoy reading and writing. They review the drama in a story and discuss different story prompts.
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The Mural of the Story
Students write a description of what they believe is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. After reading an article, they discuss the restoration of the mural on its ceiling. They brainstorm a list of important buildings and write a...
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Context Clues, Plot Structure, Conflict, and Personal Narrative Essay
What are the elements of a personal narrative? Get your class talking by reading "The Necklace" and "A Dangerous Game." The lesson focuses primarily on defining certain vocabulary terms (like context clues, plot, conflict, climax, etc.)...
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Analytical Essay
What is an analytical essay? Introduce this type of thinking to your young writers. First, discuss what it means to analyze something. Then, identify the different components of an essay and what details are embedded in each component....
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Graphic Novel Writing Workshop
Khaled Hosseini’s video “Using Real People and Events” motivates learners to reflect on their own experiences and to use those experiences as the basis of a graphic novel that expresses a universal truth. The richly detailed plan...
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Character Traits
Using a three-column chart labeled "Character," "Action," and "Trait," pupils analyze the traits of several characters from a short story. The lesson is designed for a SMART board, but a teacher could easily do the lesson without the...
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"The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson
Middle schoolers who are about to read the chilling tale, The Lottery, do some writing beforehand. They are asked to write how their lives would change if they won a huge lottery jackpot. Then, they read the short story, and will be...
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Story Starters
These language arts worksheets present a picture and a space for the teacher to type a word list for the learners to use in the story. Students write using the given word list related to the picture.
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Story Starters: Skunk
These language arts worksheets present a picture and a space for the teacher to type a word list for the students to use in the story. Students write using the given word list related to the picture.
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Picture Prompt: Penguins
In these language arts worksheets, students are presented a picture and a space is provided for the teacher to type a word list for the students to use in the story. Students synthesize a story using the given word list related to the...
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Story Starters
These language arts worksheets present a picture and a space for the teacher to type a word list for the students to use in the story. The word list can relate to the picture, be sight words, or spelling and vocabulary words.
Starfall
Little Red Hen
In this language arts instructional activity, students recall the story of The Little Red Hen and write a short story about a time they did something all by themselves.
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Six Trait Writing with Twain and Doyle
Students explore the traits of writing in this six lessons unit. Poems, fiction, and drama are evaluated to identify writing strategies. Utilization of vocabulary and writing rubrics help students judge the effectiveness of their own...
Starfall
Mr. Bunny's Carrot Soup
In this language arts worksheet, students examine a picture of Mr. Bunny who is sharing a big pot of carrot soup with friends. Students write a short story about a time they have shared something.