Workshop narrative — 5-sentence personal story (beginning, middle, end)

Mentor-text examination: identify the 5-part structure in 'The Art Lesson' (setting, first event, second event, third event, closing feeling).

• Project pages
• Mark each part

M-1-F-WR-14-B Photograph

Photo of an open spread of 'The Art Lesson' by Tomie dePaola showing the part where Tommy negotiates with his teacher. Sticky notes labeled 'EVENT 2' and 'EVENT 3' point to the relevant pages. Used as the structure model.

Narrative writing is storytelling. Real authors like Tomie dePaola follow a structure: BEGINNING (setting — where and who), MIDDLE (three events in order), END (closing feeling). Today we plan with a 5-box story map.

• Five boxes. One phrase each.

  model Box 1: 'Last summer at the beach'. Box 2: 'I built a sandcastle'. Box 3: 'A wave knocked it down'. Box 4: 'I rebuilt it bigger'. Box 5: 'I felt proud'.

  prompt Sample plan.
• Each box becomes one sentence.

  model 'Last summer at the beach was beautiful. I built a sandcastle with my mom. A big wave knocked it down. I rebuilt it bigger than before. I felt proud of my work.'

  prompt From plan to draft.

• How many boxes? (5)
• What goes in box 1? (setting)
• What goes in box 5? (closing feeling)

• Fill the 5-box story map about a real event.

  scaffold Topic prompts; mentor text reference.
• Draft the narrative — one sentence per box.

  scaffold Frame strip available.
• Conference with teacher — pick ONE revision focus (clarity, adding detail, fixing a fragment).

  scaffold Teacher rotation.

• Share your draft from the author's chair.
• Self-rate: 5 sentences, in order, each with capital + end mark.

• Three children share
• Apply protocol: compliment + wonder

• Read your draft to a family member. Get one suggestion.