📖

Stories Have a Beginning

Narrative Writing: Story Time

Day 46of 180
Week 10of 36
20Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that stories have a beginning that introduces characters and setting

2

Learn to identify key elements in a story's opening

3

Practice describing characters and settings in writing

📖 Scripture Connection

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

— Genesis 1:1 (WEB)

Just like stories have a beginning, God's story of creation has a clear starting point

📦 Materials Needed

  • Story sequencing cards
  • Beginning-middle-end graphic organizer
  • Writing paper
  • Crayons
  • Picture book
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students in a circle and explain that every story has a beginning, just like God's story in Genesis starts with 'In the beginning'.

💭 Review Question: What do you think makes a good story start?
2Teaching (7 min)

Demonstrate how stories introduce characters and where they are happening. Read the first few pages of a picture book, highlighting the beginning elements.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Characters are the people or animals in the story
  • Setting is where and when the story happens
  • The beginning tells us who and where
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Who is in this story?
  • Where is the story taking place?
  • What do you notice about how the story starts?
3Activity: Story Beginning Builders (6 min)
hands-on

Students will create a story beginning using a graphic organizer to draw their characters and setting.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw your main character
  2. Draw where your character is
  3. Write or dictate one sentence about your character
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use stickers or pre-drawn character templates

Challenge: Add dialogue or multiple characters

4Closing (2 min)

Share a few story beginnings and celebrate creativity

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did we learn about story beginnings?
  • Can you tell me about your character?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for giving us imagination to tell stories. Help us to use our words to share good things.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about what happens in the middle of stories!

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 22:1

“A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.”

— Proverbs 22:1 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Create a character name badge using the memory verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

First graders are learning narrative structure and basic storytelling skills

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage creativity
  • Focus on fun, not perfection
  • Help with writing if needed
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it hard to start a story or understand story structure

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to identify characters and setting, willingness to share their ideas

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a story beginning puppet show
  • Draw a comic strip beginning
  • Act out different story beginnings

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 47 →Back to Language Arts