Description
Empower your students’ storytelling and writing skills with this Short Story Narrative Writing unit, thoughtfully designed for learners in Grades 4, 5, and 6.
This short story writing unit is designed to introduce and strengthen students’ understanding of the five essential elements of a short story - characters, setting, plot, conflict, and theme - while guiding them through the full narrative writing process.
This resource includes 9 comprehensive lessons: fully editable instructional slides along with a wide range of engaging, skill-building activities that support both individual and collaborative learning. Each lesson is intentionally structured to move students from knowledge and understanding to application and communication, giving them the tools and confidence to create original, meaningful stories.
Throughout the unit, students explore real-world connections, analyze examples, and practise with gradual release pedagogy. Multiple points of assessment are embedded, including individual and group practice, creative mini-projects, and a comprehensive summative short story-writing project supported by detailed, student-friendly rubrics.
What's Included:
1. Short Story Introduction - FULLY EDITABLE Google Slide presentation (16 slides) and worksheet (2 page) with ANSWERS
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Introduces the concepts of the elements of a short story (characters, setting, conflict, plot, theme).
2. Characters - FULLY EDITABLE Google Slide presentation (18 slides) and interactive Character Traits group activity (3 pages) with ANSWERS
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Students learn the theory of what are characters and assess their learning through a group matching activity.
3. Character Sketch - FULLY EDITABLE Google Slide presentation (3 slides) and project outline (2 pages) with modelled example (2 pages)
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A character sketch project outline with modelled example
4. Setting - FULLY EDITABLE Google Slide presentation (17 slides) and worksheet (2 page) with ANSWERS
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Students learn the theory of what is the setting and assess their learning through a writing handout.
5. Setting Assessment - FULLY EDITABLE Google Slide project outline (4 slides)
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Students will create a diorama with written assessment component.
6. Plot - FULLY EDITABLE Google Slide presentation (17 slides) and interactive Plot Diagram Matching group activity (20 pages) with ANSWERS
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Students learn the theory of what is a plot (plot diagram analysis) and assess their learning through a group matching activity.
7. Conflict - FULLY EDITABLE Google Slide presentation (23 slides) and worksheet (2 page) with ANSWERS
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Students learn the theory of what is conflict and assess their learning through a writing handout.
8. Theme - FULLY EDITABLE Google Slide presentation (23 slides) and worksheet (2 page) with ANSWERS
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Students learn the theory of what is the theme and assess their learning through a writing handout.
9. Short Story Final Assessment - FULLY EDITABLE Google Slide group activity (12 slides), project outline/rubric (4 page), and graphic organizers (2 pages)
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Students review elements of a short story with a group activity, and create their own narrative short story piece with project outline and graphic organizers.
Why choose this resource?
Structured and scaffolded: lessons follow a logical sequence that builds understanding step by step.
Student-centred and engaging: activities are creative, interactive, and designed with real classroom energy in mind.
Skill-based and transferable: what students learn here can be applied to reading, writing, and future projects.
Flexible and fully editable: use everything as-is or adjust to meet your classroom’s needs.
Rich in assessment options: includes clear check-ins, projects, and rubrics to guide growth.
Practical and classroom-tested: designed by an actual educator in the classroom who understands real timelines, real learners, and real results.
Ontario Language Curriculum Expectations:
B1.3 identify the purpose and audience for speaking in formal and informal contexts, and use appropriate speaking strategies, including paraphrasing and restating, to communicate clearly and coherently
C1.1 read and comprehend various texts, using knowledge of words, grammar, cohesive ties, sentence structures, and background knowledge
C2.3 make predictions using background knowledge, text features, and evidence from the text, and pose questions to check whether their predictions were correct
D1.1 identify the topic, purpose, and audience for various texts they plan to create, and explain why the chosen text form, genre, and medium suit the purpose and audience and how they will help communicate the intended meaning
D1.2 generate and develop ideas and details about various topics, such as topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to other subject areas, using a variety of strategies, and drawing on various resources, including their own lived experiences
D2.1 draft texts of various forms and genres, including narrative, persuasive, and informational texts, using a variety of media, tools, and strategies
D2.5 make revisions to the content of draft texts and to elements of style, such as word choice, and add or delete sentences, to improve clarity, focus, and coherence, seeking feedback
D2.6 edit draft texts to improve accuracy and style, checking for errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and format; use a word processor to edit texts
Please note that I take great time in creating these resources. If you have any concerns I would greatly appreciate if you reach out to me through email as I strive to provide value-added resources for all my customers. You can email me at: margaret@mycalltoteach.com
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Total Pages
174 Google Slides, PDF ready-to-print ANSWERS