Developing Narrative Craft and Literary Devices

Active learning helps young writers connect imagination to text in a natural way. When students move, talk, and create together, they build confidence and see storytelling as an enjoyable process rather than a daunting task.

• Senior Infants
• Foundations of Literacy and Expression
• 3 activities
• 20 min–40 min

Learning Objectives

1. Create a short narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end, incorporating at least two distinct characters.
2. Identify and explain the purpose of descriptive language (imagery) used by peers to enhance a story's setting.
3. Analyze how a character's actions contribute to the plot's progression in a shared story.
4. Design a simple story map illustrating the sequence of events in a narrative.

Gallery Walk

⏱ 30 min·Whole Class

Gallery Walk: The Young Authors' Expo

After creating their own short 'books' (even if just 2-3 pages), students display them on their desks. The class walks around, looking at the illustrations and 'reading' the stories, leaving a 'star' sticker on something they liked.

Prepare & details

How do I develop a compelling plot with rising action, climax, and resolution?

Facilitation Tip: During the Gallery Walk, position yourself as a participant by asking students to explain their story’s setting or characters to you as you view their work.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Story Starters

The teacher provides a 'mystery object' (e.g., an old key). Pairs discuss who the key belongs to and what it opens. They then 'share' their best idea with another pair before starting to write and draw their own story about it.

Prepare & details

What literary devices can I employ to create vivid imagery and deeper meaning in my stories?

Facilitation Tip: For Think-Pair-Share, provide story starter cards with images so students have a visual prompt to discuss before writing.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Giant Story Map

On a large roll of paper, a small group works together to draw a 'world' (e.g., a jungle). They then write short labels or sentences about what is happening in different parts of their world, creating a collaborative narrative.

Prepare & details

How do I craft believable characters and settings that resonate with readers?

Facilitation Tip: When building the Giant Story Map, assign roles such as ‘illustrator’ or ‘word collector’ to keep all students engaged in the same task.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Teaching This Topic

Teach this topic by modeling the writing process yourself, showing how you draw first, then write a simple sentence, and finally share your story with the class. Avoid overemphasizing spelling or grammar at this stage, as it can stifle creativity. Research shows that children’s invented spelling helps them focus on meaning and structure, so celebrate their attempts rather than correcting too soon.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like children sharing ideas freely, illustrating stories before writing, and using simple literary devices naturally in their own work. Their stories should show a clear beginning, middle, and end with illustrations that match the text.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Think-Pair-Share: Story Starters, watch for students who say they can’t write a story because they don’t know how to spell the words.

What to Teach Instead

Provide picture-first planning sheets where students draw their story first, then write any words they can, using phonetic spelling. Remind them that authors use drawings to tell their stories too.

Common Misconception

During Collaborative Investigation: Giant Story Map, watch for students who only want to include fantastical or exaggerated elements in their stories.

What to Teach Instead

Guide them to think of a ‘small moment’ from their own lives, such as a trip to the park or a visit to a grandparent. Use the story map to break the moment into parts, like ‘what happened first?’ or ‘how did it feel?’

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After the Gallery Walk, provide students with a simple story starter, such as ‘One day, I found a shiny coin in my pocket.’ Ask them to draw one picture showing the setting and write one sentence about what happens next.

Discussion Prompt

During Think-Pair-Share: Story Starters, after pairs share their stories, ask the group: ‘What was the most exciting part of your story and why?’ Listen for responses that include descriptive words or details about characters and settings.

Exit Ticket

After Collaborative Investigation: Giant Story Map, give each student a card with a picture of a character, setting, or object. Ask them to write one sentence describing it using a descriptive word or one sentence about what might happen next in a story featuring it.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge early finishers to add a speech bubble to one character in their story.
• For students who struggle, provide a word bank with simple adjectives or verbs to help them describe their characters and settings.
• Deeper exploration: Invite students to present their stories to a younger class or record themselves reading their story aloud with illustrations to share with families.

Key Vocabulary

Plot	The sequence of events that make up a story, including what happens first, next, and last.
Character	A person or animal who takes part in the action of a story.
Setting	The time and place where a story happens.
Imagery	Words or phrases that help the reader imagine how something looks, feels, smells, tastes, or sounds.
Resolution	The end of the story where the problem is solved.