📖

Story Mountain Expedition

Narrative Writing Launch

Day 11of 180
Week 3of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the basic structure of a narrative story

2

Identify story elements in a biblical narrative

3

Learn how plot develops through different stages

1 Samuel 17:1-50

David said to Saul, 'Your servant was keeping his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him and struck him, and rescued it out of his mouth.'

1 Samuel 17:1-50 (WEB)

David's story of fighting Goliath illustrates a classic narrative structure with clear plot development

📦 Materials Needed

  • Story Mountain graphic organizer
  • Colored pencils
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Bible

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students in a circle and ask them to share a story about a time they were brave

💭 Review Question: What makes a story interesting?
2Teaching (10 min)

Introduce the Story Mountain concept: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Every story has a structure like a mountain
  • Characters face challenges that build excitement
  • The most exciting part is at the top of the mountain
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What are the main parts of a story?
  • How do characters change throughout a story?
  • Why do stories need challenges?
3Activity: David vs. Goliath Story Mountain (10 min)
hands-on

Map out the story of David and Goliath on a large Story Mountain graphic organizer

📝 Instructions:
  1. Read 1 Samuel 17 together
  2. Identify each story mountain stage
  3. Draw and label the mountain with story elements
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Teacher guides the mountain mapping

Challenge: Students create their own Story Mountain for a different biblical narrative

4Closing (5 min)

Recap the story structure and how it helps us understand narratives

📝 Review Questions:
  • What are the five parts of a story mountain?
  • How did David show courage in his story?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us be brave like David and tell stories that honor You

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about creating story characters

2 Timothy 1:7

For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Act out the verse with confident poses

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Understanding narrative structure helps children become better readers and writers

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage storytelling at home
  • Ask children to identify story elements in books they read
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it challenging to break down story structure

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to identify main story stages and character development

Extension Activities

  • Draw a personal Story Mountain of a brave moment
  • Read and analyze another biblical narrative
  • Create a puppet show demonstrating story mountain stages

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 12Back to Language Arts