First Grade · Writing · week 29

Planning a Story: Beginning, Middle, End

Plan a true story using a beginning-middle-end structure before writing it.

Every good story has three parts: a BEGINNING (how it starts), a MIDDLE (what happens), and an END (how it finishes).

Planning these three parts first -- even just a few words for each -- makes the actual writing much easier later.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Use three fingers -- one for beginning, one for middle, one for end -- as a simple, physical planning tool.
  • Keep the plan to just a few words per part; full sentences come later when actually writing.
  • If your child jumps straight to the middle (the exciting part), gently ask "but how did it start?"
  • Praise a clear three-part plan just as much as a finished story -- planning is a real writing skill.
Talk about it:
  • What are the three parts of a story plan?
  • What is the middle part of your planned story?
  • How does planning first make writing easier?

Mastery looks like: They plan a true story with a clear beginning, middle, and end before drafting full sentences.

Common stumbles: Skipping straight to the middle event and forgetting to plan how the story starts or ends.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Writing for this learner.
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