Language Unit Lesson Plan

Grade: 5/6
Time: ____________
Lesson Topic: Narrative/Short Stories
Resources: reading book, language notebook, writing instrument, handouts
Goal (for complete lesson on Short Stories) Our goal is to learn how to analyze and write
short stories, also known as short narratives
Success Criteria
To read and write a short story, I will need:
To be able to understand and identify the five basic features of a short story
o Plot, Character, Conflict, Theme, Setting
To use the five basic features, proper conventions, and paragraph formation to write my
own short story!
Overall Expectations (taken from Curriculum Guide):
(2) Recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic elements and demonstrate
understanding of how they help communicate meaning.
Specific Expectations (taken from Curriculum Guide):
(2.1) Analyze a variety of text forms and explain how their particular characteristics help
communicate meaning, with a focus on literary texts
LESSON SEQUENCE
Include:
Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6I24S72Jps
o A great introduction and attention grabber. This video is a rap about the 5 Basic
Features of a Short Story, very informative and catchy, by the end the students
will be rapping along!
Story Frame Questions: after presenting a short story (3 Little Pigs works wonderfully
as it is an easy example you can refer back to when needed), have the students complete
this worksheet individually, then using the question, begin a small group discussion that
leads to a class discussion. *refer to page 2
Story Web Package: once you feel your students have obtained enough knowledge
concerning the features of a short story; have them begin their story web to gather ideas.
*refer to page 3
Rubric: at the end of this unit, feel free to use the rubric for the students rough and hard
copies of their short stories

Name:

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Short Story Frame Questions

We are applying the 5 basic features of a short story to the short story we just read.
Directions: Fill in the following information. If you find you need more space to write, attach an extra sheet of paper
and number your questions accordingly

1. Describe the setting:

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2. Describe the characters:
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3. Describe the main conflict:
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4. What was the theme, or main idea of the story?
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5. Briefly summarize the plot of the story:
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2

NAME:________________________

Short Story Idea Web Package

CHARACTER

SETTING

PLOT

CONFLICT/
PROBLEM

THEME/
MAIN IDEA

STUDENTS NAME: ____________________

NARRATIVE/SHORT STORY RUBRIC
Categories

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

SETTING

It is unclear

The reader can

Some vivid,

Many vivid,

when and

figure out

descriptive

descriptive

where the

when and

words

words are used

story took

where the

are used to tell

to tell when

place

story took

when and

and where the

place, but the

where the story

story

writer doesn't

took

took place

supply

place

much detail
CONFLICT/PROBLEM

A storys

It is not clear

It is fairly easy

It is very easy

problem does

what the

for the

for the

not exist and

problem is and

reader to

reader to

therefore lacks

it does not

understand the

understand the

support to the

connects with

problem, but it

problem and

theme

the theme

does not

connects well

connect with

with the theme

the theme
THEME

There is no

The theme is

The theme is

The theme of

theme

unclear or hard

somewhat

the story

to understand

clear

is clear and its

obvious
what lesson the
writer is
conveying

CHARACTER

There is no

There is a main

The main

The main

main character

character, but a

character is

character is

lack of detailed

present and

clearly present

description

described

with descriptive
words to
support
him/her

PLOT

There is no

The plot

The plot

The plot

clear plot

follows a basic

displays a use

displays a great

beginning,

of a short story

use of a short

middle, and

timeline, using

story timeline,

end

clarity

using clarity
and transition
words

PROPER

The story has a

The story has

The story has

The story is

CONVENTIONS/PARAGRAPH

great deal of

some errors

limited errors

free of errors

FORMATION

errors and

and lacks

and applies

and applies

lacks proper

proper

some proper

proper

paragraph

paragraph

paragraph

paragraph

formation

formation

formation
INTRODUCTION/ENDING

An

An

An

An ending is

introduction

intro/ending

intro/ending

present, clear,

and ending

was

were present

interesting and

were not

established, but

and flowed

flows extremely

established

lacked clarity

well with the

well with the

and captivation

story

story

Were there any alterations to the students assignment? If so state.

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Did the student hand in an edited rough copy of their short story
rd
(as stated for homework due Oct. 23 )? YES NO
Comment:_________________________________
Did the student hand in a good copy of their short story
th
(as stated for homework due Oct. 24 )? YES NO
Comment:_________________________________

TEACHERS COMMENTS:
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