Narrative Stories
What is a narrative?
Plot Elements!
Plot Elements: Exposition
Plot Elements: Exposition
Plot Elements: Rising Action
Plot Elements: Climax
Plot Elements: Falling Action
Plot Elements: Resolution
Roll a Story!
Character & Plot
Character & Plot
place + time
Who is it?
What’s the problem?
Introduce setting, character, and problem
“The story begins when…
What 2-3 events happen that make the problem worse?
“Then, something unexpected happens…”
What is the biggest, most exciting moment?
What happens after the climax? How do things begin to calm down?
How is the problem finally solved? What lesson is learned or how does the character feel now?
Zarnok was definitely not supposed to land on Earth.��But his spaceship was out of fuel, and the only safe-looking landing spot was a big, dark house on a hill. He didn’t know it was called a haunted mansion.��Zarnok tiptoed inside, hoping to find batteries or wires for his spaceship. But the house was full of strange things: whispering paintings, blinking mirrors, and a piano that played by itself. Instead of scared, though, Zarnok was curious. Then — BAM! — the lights went out.��There was a blackout!��
Zarnok and the Mansion on the Hill
Zarnok’s antennae buzzed with panic. “Beep bloop blarp,” he muttered. (That’s alien for, “Oh no!”)��Suddenly, the stairs creaked. Something — or someone — was coming. Zarnok darted behind a dusty couch. A shadow moved across the hallway. The piano played a creepy tune.��He had to escape!��Using his last bit of alien power, Zarnok lit up his translator and yelled, “HELLO?! FRIEND?!”��
Zarnok and the Mansion on the Hill
To his surprise, the piano stopped. The shadow stepped closer. It wasn’t a ghost — it was a lonely old robot named Alfred who had lived in the mansion for 100 years.��“I’ve been waiting for a friend,” Alfred said with a smile.��Zarnok grinned (with all 12 of his teeth). Together, they fixed the lights and danced to the piano music. Maybe Earth wasn’t so scary after all.�
Zarnok and the Mansion on the Hill
Character & Plot
A haunted mansion on a hill
During an unexpected blackout
An alien
Stranded on Earth (cannot get home!)
Zarnok lands at the mansion looking for help.
Weird things happen (piano, shadows, blackout begins)
Something is coming! Zarnok hides and calls out
It’s a robot, not a ghost.
They became friends and fixed the lights together. Maybe staying on Earth wouldn’t be too bad!
Boring or Exciting?
One day, an alien came to Earth. HE landed on a hill. There was a house. He went to inside. The lights turned off. He was scared. Then the lights came back on and he went home.
Zarnok and the Mansion on the Hill
Boring Story
One day, an alien came to Earth. He landed on a hill. There was a house. He went to inside. The lights turned off. He was scared. Then the lights came back on and he went home.
Boring Story
Boring Story
It has all the story parts, but…
One day, an alien came to Earth. He landed on a hill. There was a house. He went to inside. The lights turned off. He was scared. Then the lights came back on and he went home.
Boring Story
Zarnok’s spaceship crashed on a hill. Smoke filled the air. In front of him was a creepy mansion with a crooked door creaking open. ��He stepped inside... but BAM! The lights went out! Something moved upstairs. Was it a ghost?��Zarnok grabbed his glowing translator. “HELLO?” he called.��A robot rolled into view. “I’ve been waiting for a friend,” it said.��Together, they fixed the power... And danced to spooky piano music under the flickering lights.
Zarnok and the Mansion on the Hill
Exciting Story
Zarnok’s spaceship crashed on a hill. Smoke filled the air. In front of him was a creepy mansion with a crooked door creaking open. ��He stepped inside... but BAM! The lights went out! Something moved upstairs. Was it a ghost?
Zarnok grabbed his glowing translator. “HELLO?” he called.��A robot rolled into view. “I’ve been waiting for a friend,” it said.��Together, they fixed the power... And danced to spooky piano music under the flickering lights.
Exciting story
Exciting Story
Same structure, but...
Zarnok’s spaceship crashed on a hill. Smoke filled the air. In front of him was a creepy mansion with a crooked door creaking open. ��He stepped inside... but BAM! The lights went out! Something moved upstairs. Was it a ghost?
Zarnok grabbed his glowing translator. “HELLO?” he called.��A robot rolled into view. “I’ve been waiting for a friend,” it said.��Together, they fixed the power... And danced to spooky piano music under the flickering lights.
Exciting story
Boring or Exciting story?
A time-traveling train
During massive snowstorm
A talking dog
Secret mission: to find a family
A cold day, with a time-traveling train. A dog is running by the train, looking for its owner. No one wants him.
The train pulled away from the station. The dog stopped running. If the dog doesn’t sleep in the warm place, it will die.
A very kind person took the cold do in. And gave the dog a warm place to sleep.
of the nice person to took care of the dog. The dog grow faster and bigger.
After a week, the dog’s owner came back. The dog hugged the owner. The owner kissed the dog’s head.
Boring or Exciting story?
A time-traveling train
Halloween
detective
Can’t let go of a cold case – trying to find thieves
One day, detective to find the thieves.
And this day is Halloween, many children on the street, so it is difficult.
And he saw the thieves are on the train. He went to catch them.
And he finds the thieves.
And that he goes to find police.
PLOT POWER-UP MENU
Plot twist | What it means | Sentence Starters |
A secret is revealed | Someone shares a big secret | “Suddenly, I found out that....” |
A mistake is made | The character messes something up | “I didn’t mean to, but I...” |
Something is lost | An important item disappears | “I reached for it, but it was gone!” |
A strange sound | Adds mystery and suspence | “Then, I heard a noise: ________.” |
An unexpected guest | A new character appears | “The door creaked open and...” |
A big decision | The character must choose between two things | “Should I ______ or _______?” |