Grades 2–3
Transition Words for Stories
A short pond story with six blanks for first, next, then, suddenly, after that and finally, then three sentences to write.
Writing worksheet · Narrative writing organizers
Personal Narrative: Hook and Ending
A planner for a true story: three kinds of hooks to try, the events in order and an ending with a feeling or a lesson.
- Grade level
- Grades 4–5
- Time
- About 35 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Narrative writing, Story planning, Sequence and transitions, Details and description
What kids do
“Plan a true story from your life. Try three hooks, list what happened, then plan an ending that tells why it mattered.”
Printed on the sheet:
- A question hook Have you ever…?
- A talking hook “Hurry up!” my sister yelled.
- What happened, in order
- How did you feel at the end?
- What did you learn, or why do you remember it?
Teacher tip
Read the first lines of three picture books and talk about which hook pulls kids in.
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.
- Let early writers draw first, then talk, then write.
Watch for
Plans that list events without a problem. Ask what goes wrong.
Talk about it
- How does your character change by the end?
- What did you change when you reread your work?
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 3–5
Dialogue Planner: Two Characters Talk
Plan a conversation between two characters, pick stronger words than said, then write the scene.
Grades 3–5
Show, Don’t Tell
Four telling sentences (Lucy was happy, the dog was tired) to rewrite with actions and details that show.
Grades 2–4
Rule of Three Story Planner
A story plan built on three tries: two that fail and one that works, then the draft.
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.