Grade 2 Story Writing

Story … Narrative … Imaginative … Creative … At the beginning of your story writing unit, have students write a story and assess using a narrative quick scale (see assessment tab above for student-friendly rubrics). Use this assessment to inform your instruction. As you explicitly teach each mini-lessons like those below, assess again, providing students with descriptive feedback regarding their progress. When students see their progress on a highlighted rubric, they are motivated to continue.
Book Title/Cover	Story Overview	Objective	Lesson Links & Black Line Masters
	Charlie is babysitting Lola and must get her to eat some not-so-favourite foods. How will he manage that?	In this lesson link, students will examine the problem and solution relationstionship in this story and others.	Writing Trait: Ideas I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato SWBS
	Willow wants to be heard, but her tiny voice means that she is often left out. Does Willow find her voice? Read this delightful book to find out what happens.	Read Willow’s dialogue in a whisper and have a conversation about the voice trait. Students will fill out a SWBS graphic organizer to determine this story’s problem and solution. This prepares them to write stories that have clear ideas.	Writing Trait: Ideas and Voice Willow’s Whispers
	Daniel Kirk’s Library Mouse is a sweet story of a mouse, turned writer, who lives in a library. When library patrons want to see who the amazing new author is, a shy mouse has an interesting solution and a warm message for our young writers!	In this lesson, children play first, then write about a mouse house they have created. The learning intention is to add deluxe details to capture the reader’s interest.	Writing Trait: Ideas Library Mouse: Adding Deluxe Details
	Lean the book to the left. What will happen to the dots? Now try shaking it. Predict your way through this book as you hand it over to kids to rub, shake, tap and lean. Playful literacy at its best!	Don’t miss this delightful book. It’s perfect as an introduction to the Voice trait in writing and a fabulous book to share predictions. Student predictions turn into creative text alternatives. Read the attached lesson for a fun response to this book.	Writing Trait: Ideas Press Here Special thanks to Mary Weiler’s class at Ecole Puntledge for their cute examples.
	Art’s supplies have a mind of their own and come to life in the studio. This book is full of word play. “2B or not 2B? That is the question.” – asked by pencils of course!	This book has a great example of a dialogue lead that not only pulls the reader in, but it also hints at the problem yet to come. In this lesson, students search for other examples of picture books that begin with a lead. They’re hard to find, but worth the effort to model this clever writing skill.	Writing Trait: Organization Art’s Supplies dialogue leads
	Kids will connect with the central message of this book and get a little history lesson as well~ were cave children asking the same question?	This book offers another great example of a dialogue lead to hook the reader. During this lesson, students search for other examples of picture books that begin with conversation. They’re hard to find, but worth the effort to model this clever writing skill. A list of books with dialogue leads is included here!	Writing Trait: Organization Why Do I Have to Make My Bed: Dialogue Leads
	Bear does not like visitors. He even has a sign to prove it. But the little mouse is not so quick to leave. Will bear have a change of heart?	In this lesson, dialogue writing is explicitly taught.	Writing Traits: Voice & Conventions A Visitor for Bear Lesson Grade 2 & 3 examples from Mrs. Holland’s class @ Courtenay El.
	Pete is a perfectly predictable pig. So what does a predicatble pig do when an unconventional, creative elephant enters his world? Add this book to your read aloud repertoire. It will not disappoint!	This lesson is about writing sentences that are different lengths. We want our students to know that a mixture of short, medium and long sentences sound great when read aloud. This is a perfect mentor text for that!	Writing Traits: Sentence Fluency Pete and Pickles
	Get the tissue ready! Milo doesn’t see what’s so special about moms. After all, they are nothing more than broccoli bullies! But when Milo travels to another planet, he might just figure out their worth!	In this lesson, dialogue writing is explicitly taught.	Writing Traits: Voice & Conventions Mars Needs Moms Dialogue Lesson
	Frog wants to fly, but flying is a bird thing. When frog rescues a baby bird, flying just might become a frog thing too!	In the first lesson link, dialogue writing is explicitly taught. In the second link, students will examine the problem and solution framework of this story and others.	Writing Traits: Voice & Conventions Dialogue from A Frog Thing Writing Trait: Ideas Problem and Solution Lesson
	All the Dandelions are disappearing quickly, but Christopher Nibble finds one. Will he gobble it up quickly before others find it? This book has a heartwarming theme.	Students will examine the problem and solution framework of this story and others.	Writing Trait: Ideas Christopyher Nibble SWBS
	Missy isn’t keen on books, but with just the right book, Miss Brooks might be able to change that attitude.	In this lesson link, character flaws are examined as a way to create a problem for a story.	Writing Trait: Ideas Miss Brooks Loves Books and I Don’t
	In this video clip, Faye demonstrates how four objects can be used to fuel the imagination.	By drawing first, students have the time to plan and talk before they write.	Writing Trait: Ideas It’s In The Bag: a video from S.D. 72
	Follow the daily events told from the perspective of a goldfish. When living conditions become too crowded, will this goldfish enjoy his new, quiet surroundings?	In this lesson, students write diary entries pretending they are a house pet, farm or zoo animal that is dealing with an environmental issue.	Writing Traits: Voice and Ideas Memoirs of a Goldfish