Developing the Middle of a Story

Active learning works well for developing the middle of a story because young writers need to physically and collaboratively experience how problems create movement in a plot. When pupils act out challenges or map events together, they see how one action leads to the next, making abstract story structure concrete.

• Year 1
• English
• 4 activities
• 15 min–30 min

Learning Objectives

1. Construct sentences that clearly describe a problem a character encounters in the middle of a story.
2. Sequence events in the middle of a story to show cause and effect.
3. Identify how events in the story's middle build towards a potential resolution.
4. Create a middle section for a story that introduces a specific conflict or challenge.

RAFT Writing

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Pairs: Problem Relay Writing

Provide a story opening. Pupils in pairs take turns writing one sentence for the middle: first pupil introduces the problem, second adds a reaction, and they alternate for five sentences. Pairs read aloud and revise based on partner feedback.

Prepare & details

Predict what problem a character might face in the middle of a story.

Facilitation Tip: During Problem Relay Writing, model how to pass the sentence starter only after the next logical event is added, not before.

Setup: Standard classroom seating, individual or paired desks

Materials: RAFT assignment card, Historical background brief, Writing paper or notebook, Sharing protocol instructions

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

RAFT Writing

⏱ 30 min·Small Groups

Small Groups: Story Map Middles

Groups draw a simple story map with opening, middle problem events, and resolution space. Discuss predictions, then write 3-4 sentences for the middle on sticky notes to place on the map. Share maps with the class.

Prepare & details

Analyze how events in the middle build towards a resolution.

Setup: Standard classroom seating, individual or paired desks

Materials: RAFT assignment card, Historical background brief, Writing paper or notebook, Sharing protocol instructions

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

RAFT Writing

⏱ 25 min·Whole Class

Whole Class: Act-and-Write Middle

Read a story opening together. Volunteers act out a predicted middle problem while class suggests events. Teacher scribes key sentences on the board, then pupils copy and add one personal sentence.

Prepare & details

Construct sentences that move the story forward.

Setup: Standard classroom seating, individual or paired desks

Materials: RAFT assignment card, Historical background brief, Writing paper or notebook, Sharing protocol instructions

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

RAFT Writing

⏱ 15 min·Individual

Individual: Problem Sketch and Caption

Pupils draw their story character's middle problem, then write 2-3 caption sentences describing it. Circulate to prompt connections to the opening and forward momentum.

Prepare & details

Predict what problem a character might face in the middle of a story.

Setup: Standard classroom seating, individual or paired desks

Materials: RAFT assignment card, Historical background brief, Writing paper or notebook, Sharing protocol instructions

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should model acting out simple problems so pupils understand how obstacles create story momentum. Avoid letting pupils spend too long describing settings or characters in the middle. Research suggests young writers benefit from visual planning before drafting sentences.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like pupils writing or discussing problems that directly affect their characters and lead to clear next steps. Their middles should show a chain of events where obstacles create tension and move the story toward resolution.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Problem Relay Writing, watch for pupils describing characters or settings instead of introducing a problem.

What to Teach Instead

Stop the relay and ask the pair to act out their idea first, then write the problem they just showed you. Emphasize that the middle must move the story forward, not describe it.

Common Misconception

During Story Map Middles, watch for pupils drawing unrelated events with no clear connection to the problem.

What to Teach Instead

Ask the group to explain how each drawn event makes the problem harder to solve. If they cannot explain, prompt them to add arrows showing cause and effect between events.

Common Misconception

During Act-and-Write Middle, watch for pupils writing sentences that do not connect to the opening or each other.

What to Teach Instead

Write their first sentence on the board and ask the class to suggest what should happen next, linking it causally to the first sentence. Then have pupils copy the extended version as an example.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After Problem Relay Writing, ask each pair to read their two sentences aloud. Then ask a peer to explain how the second sentence happened because of the first.

Exit Ticket

After Story Map Middles, collect each group’s map and listen as they explain how their drawn problem leads to the next event. Note if their explanations show clear cause-and-effect links.

Discussion Prompt

During Act-and-Write Middle, after acting out a scene, ask the class to suggest one problem that would make it harder for the character to succeed. Listen for ideas that directly complicate the original challenge.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students to add a second problem that makes the first one harder to solve.
• Scaffolding: Provide sentence starters like 'Because of the problem, my character...' for pupils who struggle to begin.
• Deeper: Ask students to create a 'problem chain' with three connected obstacles before resolving the story.

Key Vocabulary

problem	A difficult or challenging situation that a character in a story must face or overcome.
challenge	A difficult task or situation that tests a character's abilities or determination.
event	Something that happens during the middle of a story, often leading to the next part of the plot.
sequence	The order in which events happen in a story, showing what comes first, next, and last.
conflict	A struggle or disagreement between characters or between a character and a force, like nature or a problem.