Short Story Motivator

November is National Novel Writing Month, so if your young authors are embarking on this journey, be sure they understand plot elements. This collaborative lesson fits into the context of the larger NaNoWriMo project; however, the ideas...

Grow an understanding of short story with a well-sequenced plan built around an Academy Award-winning short film. Class members explore the elements of an effective short story, and practice writing their own. They also watch the short...

Encourage your class to consider a beautiful short film about a boy named Theo who happens to be visually impaired. Over the course of the activity, pupils work in pairs, discuss their ideas and the film as a class, view the film, take...

A short story is only as strong as its characters, development, and conflicts. Encourage the young authors in your class to plan their stories based on the elements of narrative writing, all provided in brainstorming graphic organizers.

West Side Story, the modern retelling of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, won ten Academy Awards for its rousing depiction of the tale of star-crossed lovers. But how closely does the plot align to its source material? Compare and...

This is a PDF of a ReadWriteThink plot structure diagram chart form for students to use on short stories. It includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, theme, and protagonist and antagonist.

Where does it happen? When did it happen? These are two questions that play a key role in understanding the setting of a story. The fourth and final video in a Language Arts playlist uses a song to explain how the setting connects to...

The Jets and the Sharks are back! As you watch the film version of West Side Story, use this viewing guide to help keep your class on track and analyze important plot events. Each song's lyrics are presented here, along with a set of...

What a fun way to analyze plot, setting, and character. Learners review story elements, read a short fictional story, then turn the events of that story into a headlining news paper article. Not only does this lesson engage critical...

Pair this story map with any short story of your choice. The reader studies the characters, setting, conflict, and the story's major events. Or, provide this sheet for your budding writers to create their own stories. A clear graphic...