1. Grade 5 Copyright © 2014 by Write Score LLC

2. We are going to work on writing the beginning of a story. When working on our beginnings, we want to: o Grab the reader’s attention o Create a picture for the reader o Orient the reader and establish the situation of the story (setting, characters, and so on)

3. To show you what I mean, we’ll use a picture of a fireworks display. Imagine you’re going to write a story that takes place in this scene. What details do you notice?

4. o Capitol building o White-illuminated buildings o Ink-black sky o Green, pink, yellow, white streams of light o Colors the blackness o Boats dot water o Lights twinkle like stars from surrounding buildings o Fireworks explode like a huge flower o Water tinted red

5. Now, I’m going to use the details to write a beginning. We unfolded our chairs on the other side of the river dotted with boats. We had a perfect view of the Capitol illuminated in soft light. The sky was ink-black and the air was humid. Before long, music alerted us that the fireworks were about to begin. Mom and Dad warned my brother, Eric, and me to stay put. The darkness and the crowds worried them. They knew Eric wasn’t very good at sitting still. Then it started. Crack, bang, boom. The sky exploded. Green, pink, yellow, red, white, and blue streaks mushroomed forming a giant flower in the sky. We all applauded. I guess that’s why we didn’t notice right away that Eric wasn’t in his seat.

6. Notice how I introduced the characters and narrator? We unfolded our chairs on the other side of the river dotted with boats. We had a perfect view of the Capitol illuminated in soft light. The sky was ink-black and the air was humid. Before long, music alerted us that the fireworks were about to begin. Mom and Dad warned my brother, Eric, and me to stay put. They darkness and the crowds worried them. They knew Eric wasn’t very good at sitting still. Then it started. Crack, bang, boom. The sky exploded. Green, pink, yellow, red, white, and blue streaks mushroomed forming a giant flower in the sky. We all applauded. I guess that’s why we didn’t notice right away that Eric wasn’t in his seat.

7. Notice how I oriented the reader and established the story situation? We unfolded our chairs on the other side of the river dotted with boats. We had a perfect view of the Capitol illuminated in soft light. The sky was ink-black and the air was humid. Before long, music alerted us that the fireworks were about to begin. Mom and Dad warned my brother, Eric, and me to stay put. They darkness and the crowds worried them. They knew Eric wasn’t very good at sitting still. Then it started. Crack, bang, boom. The sky exploded. Green, pink, yellow, red, white, and blue streaks mushroomed forming a giant flower in the sky. We all applauded. I guess that’s why we didn’t notice right away that Eric wasn’t in his seat.

8. o You are going to write about something that happened at home. This could be a real story or something you make up. o Open to a clean page in your writer’s notebook. o Begin by making a list of details about one place at home where your story will take place: the kitchen, the living room, the yard for example.

9. Now, try to do what I did when I wrote the beginning of my story using the fireworks picture. Remember! o Orient the reader and include a story situation. o Introduce characters and/or a narrator.

10. After you finish your beginning, make a list of details about the picture of the forest below.

11. Think about something that could happen in this forest. Write your ideas on a clean page of your writer’s notebook.

12. o After you decide the story you’d like to tell, work on a beginning for that story. o Think about all the details in the photograph and remember to create a picture for the reader with your words!