Learning Objectives
By the end of the unit students will be able to:
- Understand the basic structure of a short story (beginning, middle, climax, ending)
- Create interesting characters with names, appearance, personality and feelings
- Choose and describe a clear setting (time and place)
- Write a story of 200–300 words with a proper plot
- Use dialogue naturally with correct punctuation and dialogue tags
- Use sensory words and “show, don’t tell” technique to make writing vivid
- Give and receive constructive feedback politely
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
Plot, character, setting, problem/conflict, climax, resolution, dialogue, dialogue tags (said, whispered, shouted, exclaimed, replied, asked), sensory words (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), opening hooks, cliff-hanger, twist ending, storytelling phrases (“Once upon a time”, “Suddenly”, “All of a sudden”, “In the blink of an eye”, “Before he knew it”, “To his horror”, “Finally”, “From that day onwards”)
Materials Required
- A4 lined and blank sheets, coloured pens
- Story starter cards, picture prompts, emotion cards
- Props box (old hat, scarf, toy sword, crown, magic wand, lantern, etc.)
- Chart with dialogue punctuation rules
- “Story Mountain” template (printable)
- Rubric for final story evaluation (given below)
- Soft background music for storytelling sessions (optional)
Detailed 8-Period Lesson Plan
Period 1 – What Makes a Great Story?
- Read aloud a very short exciting story (150 words).
- Class discussion: What happened first? Who were the characters? Where and when did it happen? What was the problem? How did it end?
- Introduce Story Mountain on board: Beginning → Build-up → Problem/Climax → Resolution → Ending.
- Students draw their own blank Story Mountain in notebook.
Period 2 – Characters and Setting
- Activity: “Character in a Hat” – Teacher pulls random objects from prop box. Students instantly invent a character who would own that object (name, age, likes, fears).
- Setting brainstorm: Show 8 picture prompts (enchanted forest, abandoned house, busy market, spaceship, underwater city, etc.). Students choose one and write 5 sentences describing it using senses.
- Teacher models one example using “show, don’t tell” (instead of “She was scared”, write “Her knees knocked together and her teeth chattered”).
Period 3 – Beginning and Opening Hooks
- Share 10 different story openers (question, sound, dialogue, action, weather, mystery).
- Students write 5 different opening lines for the same picture prompt.
- Class votes for the most gripping hook.
Period 4 – Plot and Problem
- Story starter cards activity: Each student picks one starter sentence and writes the next 5 sentences, then passes to neighbour (exchanged 4 times → funny mixed stories are read aloud.
- Discuss how every good story needs a problem/conflict.
- Brainstorm list of problems (lost in jungle, magic spell gone wrong, new student feeling lonely, time-travel mistake, stolen treasure, etc.).
Period 5 – Using Dialogue Correct Dialogue
- Chart on board with rules: → New speaker = new line → “Hello,” she said. (comma inside quotes, lowercase tag) → “Watch out!” shouted Ahmed.
- Game: Teacher reads sentences without punctuation; students rewrite correctly.
- Pair practice: Convert narrated sentences into dialogue form.
Period 6 – Storytelling Session with Props
- Students work in groups of 4–5.
- Each group picks 3 random props from the box and 1 picture setting.
- They have 15 minutes to prepare a 3-minute oral story using those props must appear in the story.
- Perform in front of class. Audience notes one thing they liked and one suggestion.
Period 7 – Writing the Full Story
- Students choose their own idea (or continue one they liked).
- Steps done in class:
- Fill Story Mountain planner (characters, setting, problem, solution)
- Write rough draft (200–300 words)
- Use at least 4 pieces of dialogue
- Include at least 5 sensory words
- Teacher moves around giving individual help.
Period 8 – Peer Review, Editing and Final Submission
- Peer review in pairs using 2 Stars and 1 Wish method: → Star 1: Something you really liked → Star 2: Another good thing → Wish: One polite suggestion
- Students edit and rewrite neatly with title and illustration on final A4 sheet.
- Best 8–10 stories are read aloud by the authors (voluntary).
- All stories displayed on “Imagination Wall”.