A guide: How to teach children narrative writing

Narrative writing is a type of writing that tells a story or recounts a series of events. It can be fiction or non-fiction and is characterised by a clear beginning, middle, and end, with a focus on character development, plot, and setting. The purpose of narrative writing is to entertain, inform, or persuade the reader, and it often employs descriptive language and dialogue to bring the story to life.
 
Teaching narrative writing to children can be a fun and engaging process. Here are some steps you can take to help children learn how to write a narrative:
 
Introduce the concept of a narrative: Start by explaining what a narrative is and its purpose. Tell children that a narrative is a story that has a beginning, middle, and end. It should include characters, a plot, and a setting.
 
Read examples of narratives: Provide children with examples of narratives, such as children's books or short stories. This will help them understand the elements of a narrative and how they work together.
 
Brainstorm story ideas: Encourage children to brainstorm story ideas. You can provide prompts or ask them to think of their own ideas. This will help them start thinking creatively and develop their imagination.
 
Develop characters: Have children create characters for their story. Encourage them to think about the character's traits, appearance, and personality.
 
Create a plot: Help children create a plot for their story. The plot should include a problem or conflict that the characters need to resolve.
 
Develop the setting: Have children create a setting for their story. The setting should include details about where the story takes place and the time period.
 
Teach story structure: Teach children about the structure of a story. A story should have an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion.
 
Focus on descriptive language: Encourage children to use descriptive language to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. You can teach them about the use of adjectives, adverbs, and sensory language.
 
Provide feedback: Give children feedback on their writing. This will help them improve their writing skills and understand what they need to do to make their writing better.
 
Publish their work: Finally, encourage children to publish their work. This can be done through a class or school publication, or even on a personal blog or website. Publishing their work will give them a sense of pride and accomplishment, and encourage them to continue writing in the future.
 
Narrative Writing for Children: What It Is and How It Works
 
Narrative writing is when someone tells a story. You might hear or read a story when you're at school, or your parents might read a story to you before bed. But did you know that someone had to write that story down first? That's called narrative writing.
 
Narrative writing can be about anything. It can be about your favorite animal, a cool adventure, or even something that really happened to you. When someone is writing a story, they use words to describe what's happening, like who the characters are, where they are, and what they're doing.
 
Sometimes, people who write stories also use different techniques to make the story more interesting. They might describe the characters in a lot of detail so you can really imagine what they look like, or they might use exciting words to describe what's happening. This can make the story more fun to read and help you feel like you're really part of the adventure.
 
So in short, narrative writing is when someone writes a story using words to describe the characters, setting, and events. It can be about anything and is used to create fun and interesting stories for people to read or hear.
 
Examples of narrative writing you might enjoy!
 
"The Three Little Pigs" - This is a classic story that tells the tale of three pigs who build houses out of different materials and how they try to protect themselves from the Big Bad Wolf.
 
"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" - This is a book that tells the story of a young boy named Harry Potter who discovers that he's a wizard and goes on an adventure to save the wizarding world.
 
"Where the Wild Things Are" - This is a book that tells the story of a young boy named Max who gets sent to his room for being naughty, but then goes on an adventure to a magical land filled with wild things.
 
"The Lion King" - This is a movie that tells the story of a young lion cub named Simba who grows up and becomes the king of the Pride Lands.
 
"Moana" - This is a movie that tells the story of a brave young girl named Moana who goes on an adventure to save her island and discovers her true identity along the way.
 
All of these examples are narrative writing because they tell a story using words or images. They have characters, settings, and events that are described in a way that creates a fun and interesting story for the reader or viewer.

Empowering Kids with the Magic of Storytelling! In this exciting video all about narrative writing for kids, we'll explore the world of storytelling and help young writers unleash their creativity. We'll cover the fundamentals of character development, plot structure, and settings, helping budding writers craft compelling stories. Join us as we delve into the magical world of storytelling and learn how to write captivating tales that will capture the imagination of readers young and old, teaching creative writing for kids. So whether you're a teacher or a parent of an aspiring author or a child who just loves a good story, this video is sure to spark their imaginations and ignite their passion for storytelling as well as teaching them how to write a story. Get ready to discover the power of narrative writing and unlock their creative potential!

TASK:
​Write a short story about a magical creature that you create. Describe what the creature looks like, what special powers it has, and choose a location for its adventures. Remember to include a beginning, middle, and end to your story, and make sure to use descriptive language to bring your creature and its world to life.

THIS VIDEO COVERS:
00:00 What is a narrative?
00:51 Elements of a story.
01:37 Character Development
03:08 Plots
04:30 Settings

RESOURCE LINKS:
Let your child blossom into a talented storyteller. Join The Evelyn Winters Adventure Teachers and Parents area - the VIP club for adventurous educators and parents. Get free resources and support from your own superhero squad. Conquer the challenges of raising the next generation. Let's learn together: https://www.evelynwinters.co.uk/teach...