Serving advanced learners (and their teachers) since 2012.

Arizona ELA Standard: 6.W.3.a

Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

Chaos Makes Sense (Later)
Chaos Makes Sense (Later)
In the moment, a chaotic event makes no sense. But later, that same event can feel like it was part of a larger story.
Gr 1-8
Holiday Emoji Story ⛷️
Holiday Emoji Story ⛷️
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 2-8
Holiday Emoji Story 🍪
Holiday Emoji Story 🍪
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 1-8
Holiday Emoji Story ☃️
Holiday Emoji Story ☃️
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 2-8
Holiday Emoji Story 🎅
Holiday Emoji Story 🎅
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 2-8
Holiday Emoji Story 🚚
Holiday Emoji Story 🚚
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 2-8
Halloween Emoji Story 🎃
Halloween Emoji Story 🎃
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 2-8
Halloween Emoji Story 🌕
Halloween Emoji Story 🌕
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 2-8
Halloween Emoji Story 🕷️
Halloween Emoji Story 🕷️
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 1-8
Emoji Stories 🦁
Emoji Stories 🦁
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 1-8
Emoji Stories 🐌
Emoji Stories 🐌
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 1-8
Emoji Stories 🚚
Emoji Stories 🚚
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 2-8
Emoji Stories 🏟️
Emoji Stories 🏟️
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 2-8
Emoji Stories 🕰️
Emoji Stories 🕰️
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 1-8
Emoji Stories 👁️
Emoji Stories 👁️
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 2-8
Emoji Stories 🚗
Emoji Stories 🚗
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 1-8
Emoji Stories 🤖
Emoji Stories 🤖
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 1-8
Emoji Stories 🐻
Emoji Stories 🐻
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 2-8
Emoji Stories 🏰
Emoji Stories 🏰
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 1-8
Emoji Stories 🛥️
Emoji Stories 🛥️
Five emoji. One story. Where will your imagination take you?
Gr 1-8
Bobbing for Apples
Bobbing for Apples
What is bobbing for apples like… for an apple?
Gr 2-8
A Halloween Costume Gone Wrong
A Halloween Costume Gone Wrong
Let’s go roller skating in a Halloween costume! What could possibly go wrong?
Gr 1-8
Writing Sample: A Christmas Carol (Cold)
Writing Sample: A Christmas Carol (Cold)
A passage from White Fang to use as a mentor text, discussion starter, or writing prompt.
Gr 1-8
Story Starter: Out To Eat
Story Starter: Out To Eat
Students pick from 12 random phrases to create a story about an incident in a restaurant.
Gr 1-8
Story Starter: Amusement Park
Story Starter: Amusement Park
Students use 12 random phrases to write a story that takes place in at an amusement park.
Gr 2-8
Story Starter: A Magical School
Story Starter: A Magical School
Students use 12 random phrases to create a story that takes place in at a magical school.
Gr 1-8
Writing Sample: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Falling)
Writing Sample: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Falling)
A passage from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to use as a mentor text, discussion starter, or writing prompt.
Gr 1-8
Impostor Syndrome
Impostor Syndrome
How high-performing students can often feel like they aren’t really that great.
Gr 2-8
The Personalities of Rocks
The Personalities of Rocks
What would an igneous rock be like? Would it get along with a sedimentary rock? Could they handle the hot personality of a metamorphic rock?
Gr 2-8
Game: Order and Chaos
Game: Order and Chaos
Imagine Tic-Tac-Toe if both players could play as both Xs and Os!
Gr 1-8
Student Introductions With Depth and Frames
Student Introductions With Depth and Frames
Want to introduce the tools of Depth and Complexity and learn more about your students and introduce the Frame graphic organizer? Have I got the activity for you!
Gr 1-8
Showing A Character’s Trait
Showing A Character’s Trait
We tell students to ‘show, not tell’ — but that advice is useless until they experience the difference. This lesson makes it click.
Gr 2-8
Improving Presentations 2: Planning The Outline
Improving Presentations 2: Planning The Outline
After watching some great presenters, let’s outline your presentation!
Gr 2-8
Historic Social Media
Historic Social Media
How would people from history have interacted online? Students will develop a conversation online between people involved in the same event from history.
Gr 1-8
Better Stories Part 5: Plot Structure
Better Stories Part 5: Plot Structure
Ever read a student’s story that was just event after event after event and then a very sudden ending? They lack an understanding of a plot’s structure. With the help of Finding Nemo, I break down how to set up a well-structured plot.
Gr 1-8
Better Stories Part 4: Character Archetypes
Better Stories Part 4: Character Archetypes
Are students’ characters a bit flat? Archetypes give them a strong foundation on which to build their own characters as well as a tool to analyze existing stories.
Gr 1-8