Lesson Plan #: AELP-WCP0061
Submitted by: Kim Morris
Email: kimma212@yahoo.com
School/University/Affiliation: Dewey Elementary, San Diego, CA Date: September 19, 1999

Grade Level(s): Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Subject(s):

• Language Arts/Writing (composition)

Duration: 30 minutes Description: Gives students a character, setting, and problem in which they use to write a story.

Goals: Students realize that a story can be created from anything.

Objectives: Students will create a story that includes a character, plot, setting, and detail describing those elements according to their developmental level in writing.

Materials:

• craft sticks (popsicle sticks)
• red and green food coloring
• permanent felt tip pen

Procedure: Make 3 columns on the board or on chart paper headed: character, problem, setting. (Younger students can orally give answers, older students can brainstorm their own list and then share out loud.) Soak some sticks in a red and green food color dye. Copy character ideas on the plain sticks, setting ideas on green sticks, and problem ideas on red sticks. The next time you’re ready to write, students pull one stick of each color and use those elements to create a story. Added detail will depend on the age of the student and discretion of the teacher. Assessment: Have students write the names of their sticks on the top of the paper and check to see if those elements are used appropriately to create a story.