# Lesson 18: Beginning, middle, and end of a story

✍️ WRITING (40 Lessons) • 🟡 C. Creative Writing

← Back to Level 1

## Objective

I can tell and write a short story with a clear beginning, middle, and ending, using capitals, spaces, and periods.

## Materials

- Short, sharpened pencil
- Eraser
- Ruled paper (primary lines preferred)
- Tracing Pad (below)
- Simple picture or memory for a story

## Mini-lesson — A story has a beginning, middle, and end

A short story is not just one sentence. It has three parts that go in order.

Beginning — the start of the story

- Who is in the story?
- Where are they?
- What is happening at the start?

Middle — something happens

- A small event or action.
- The character does something.
- Something changes.

End — how the story finishes

- What happens at the end?
- How does the character feel now?
- Do they go home, rest, or say goodbye?

Think: "Can I tell what happens first, next, and last in my story?"

Picture strip: "Beginning, middle, ending"

## Guided Practice — Story order warm-up

Use this routine to practice story order before you write your own short story.

1. Think of a small story: a time at the park, at home, or at school.
2. Say it in three parts: "In the beginning...", "In the middle...", "At the end...".
3. Trace story words: On the Tracing Pad, choose a short word like first, then, next, or last. Trace it neatly on the line.
4. Say a full sentence: Use your word to say a sentence such as First I go to the park., Then I play., or Last I go home.
5. Plan your own story: On your paper, think of three lines: one for the beginning, one for the middle, and one for the ending.
6. Check the order: Read your three ideas. Ask, "Does this happen first, next, and last?"

Later you can use these three parts to write a longer story with more detail.

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Drag & Drop — Put the story in order

Each mini story has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Put the sentences in the right order.

On the device:
Read the three sentences, think about what happens first, next, and last, and drag each one into the box for the beginning, middle, or ending.

On paper:
Choose three stories you finished.
Write the beginning sentence, the middle sentence, and the ending sentence in order on your paper.
Start each sentence with a capital letter and end it with a period.

Story 1 — A rainy walk

I jump in small puddles. Dark clouds cover the sky. I put on my boots.

Story 2 — My birthday

We eat cake and smile. Today is my birthday. We play games after school.

Story 3 — Lost toy

I find my toy under the chair. I drop my toy on the floor. I look around the room.

Story 4 — At the park

I go home tired and happy. I go to the park. I play on the slide.

Story 5 — Dinner time

We eat dinner together. I help set the table. I say thank you for the meal.

## Quick Check — Beginning, middle, and end

Answer each question about story parts and clear sentences. This is a gentle 10-question check.

#### What does a short story need?

Only one long sentence A beginning, a middle, and an ending Only a title with no sentences

#### What does the beginning of a story tell?

Who is in the story and where What happens after the story is finished What every person ate last year

#### What happens in the middle of a story?

The characters go back to the beginning The story stops and does not move Something happens to the characters

#### What does a good ending show?

Only the first thing that happened How the story finishes A new beginning for a different story

#### In the rainy story, which sentence is the beginning?

Dark clouds cover the sky. I jump in small puddles. I put on my boots.

#### In a three-sentence story, what is the middle sentence usually about?

The title of the story What the character dreams at night What the character does in the story

#### In the dinner time story, which sentence is a good ending?

I help set the table. I say thank you for the meal. We put plates on every chair at school.

#### Why is it important to put story sentences in order?

So the story makes sense from start to end So the story is as long as possible So the reader has to guess the order

#### How should each sentence in your story begin?

With a drawing With a tiny letter With a capital letter

#### How can you check if your story beginning, middle, and ending sound right?

Read the whole story aloud Only read the middle sentence Close the notebook and do not read it

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Can explain that a story has a beginning, middle, and ending Puts short story sentences into a clear order Writes three sentences in order to tell one short story Uses capitals, spaces, and periods correctly in most sentences

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can put story sentences in order and write a short story. 🙂 I need more practice with beginning, middle, and ending. 😅 Story order still feels tricky.

#### Next time I will…

Check that my story has a beginning, middle, and ending Check my capitals, spaces, and periods Read my story aloud from start to end
← Lesson 17 Lesson 19 →