Strong Story Beginnings

Lesson 5 – Crafting Compelling Narratives

Name:

Date:

A child writing a story with a pencil, surrounded by books and stars

📋 Part 1: Plan Your Story Beginning

Before you write, plan your ideas! Answer the questions below to help you get ready.

🧍 My Main Character

1. What is your character's name and how old are they?

Name: _________________________ Age: _______

2. What does your character look like? Use describing words (adjectives)!

Word bank: tall, small, curly, bright, messy, quiet, brave, cheerful, nervous, kind

3. How is your character feeling at the start of the story? Circle one (or add your own):

Excited

Scared

Curious

Nervous

Other: _______________________

🌏 My Setting

4. Where does your story take place?

A forest

A beach

A school

A city

Somewhere else: _______________________

5. Describe your setting using your senses. What can your character see, hear, or feel?

Word bank: golden, misty, freezing, roaring, rustling, glittering, muddy, shadowy, warm, damp

👁️ See: _________________________________________________________________

👂 Hear: ________________________________________________________________

🤚 Feel: ________________________________________________________________

✏️ Part 2: Write Your First Paragraph

Now use your planning to write a strong story beginning! Try to introduce your character and setting in just a few sentences. Make your reader want to keep reading!

💡 Sentence starters to help you:
"One [morning/afternoon/evening]…" | "Deep in the…" | "[Name] had never seen anything like…" | "The air smelled of…"