Grades 2–4
A Time I Was Brave
A personal narrative planner: before, during and after a brave moment, with feeling words, then the story.
Writing worksheet · Narrative writing organizers
Action Scene: Use Strong Verbs
Four plain sentences to power up with strong verbs like dashed and snatched, then a short action scene.
- Grade level
- Grades 3–5
- Time
- About 30 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Narrative writing, Story planning, Sequence and transitions, Details and description
What kids do
“Strong verbs make action scenes exciting. Rewrite each weak sentence with a stronger verb and a detail.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Weak: The dog went across the yard.
- Weak: The girl got the ball. Stronger:
- Weak: The door closed. Stronger:
- Weak: The cat went up the tree. Stronger:
- Write a short action scene: a chase, a race or a rescue.
Words on this sheet
Strong verbsdashedslammedzoomedcreptleapedtumbled
Teacher tip
Make a class chart of strong verbs for walked and ran, and keep it up for future writing.
How to use it
- Plan a class story together on the board using the same organizer.
- Retell a well-known picture book with the organizer before kids plan their own.
- Give a minute at the end to reread the work out loud to a partner.
Watch for
Plans that list events without a problem. Ask what goes wrong.
Talk about it
- Where does your story get exciting?
- Where else do writers use this skill?
Take it further
Turn the plan into a draft in writing workshop the next day.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More narrative writing organizers
Grades 2–3
Beginning, Middle and End Planner
Three draw-and-write boxes for planning a story’s beginning, middle and end.
Grades 2–4
Somebody Wanted But So Then
The Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then chart for planning or retelling a story, plus a one-sentence summary.
Grades 2–4
Character, Setting, Problem, Solution
A four-square story planner: character, setting, problem and solution, each with room to draw and write.
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