Building_Stories_Elementary_Edition

How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students Thirty illustrated story starters with planning and writing pages Rebecca Taylor Use one pictured holiday moment to imagine a beginning, a middle, and a resolution. A companion to Holiday Building Better Sentences with Pictures How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

THE BUILDING SERIES Table of Contents Holiday Edition | Elementary Students Choose a story. Each title opens its first planning page. Story title Holiday 01 Trunk or Treat Halloween 02 The Runaway Hat Halloween 03 The Pumpkin Visitor Halloween 04 The Costume Mix Up Halloween 05 The Extra Place Thanksgiving 06 Bread for the Table Thanksgiving 07 The Community Meal Thanksgiving 08 A Thank You Note Thanksgiving 09 The Elf’s Defense Christmas 10 Cookies for Santa Christmas 11 Choosing the Gift Christmas 12 The Christmas Story Christmas 13 A Gift for Another Child Christmas 14 Tangled Lights Christmas Plot • Setting • Characters • Resolution How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

THE BUILDING SERIES Table of Contents • continued Holiday Edition | Elementary Students Choose a story. Each title opens its first planning page. Story title Holiday 15 Eggs for His Little Sister Easter 16 The Rabbit in the Basket Easter 17 Spring Morning Easter 18 The Last Egg Easter 19 A Card for Grandma Mother’s Day 20 Breakfast for a Caregiver Mother’s Day 21 Planting Together Mother’s Day 22 The Favorite Story Mother’s Day 23 Grandpa’s Wagon Father’s Day 24 A Picnic Together Father’s Day 25 The Pancake Lesson Father’s Day 26 The Photo Surprise Father’s Day 27 The Nation’s Birthday Fourth of July 28 Fireworks and the Dog Fourth of July 29 The Neighborhood Picnic Fourth of July 30 A Quiet View Fourth of July Plot • Setting • Characters • Resolution How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

How to Use This Book Each numbered picture matches the corresponding holiday sentence book for this age group. A picture shows a moment. A story explains who is involved, what led to the moment, what changes, and how the characters respond. Students may invent details beyond the picture when those details connect. Begin with the worked model. Each of the thirty story starters then has a planning page followed immediately by a lined writing page. The suggested words are resources, not required answers. A student can create a different plot from a classmate using the same image. Students may speak, sign, use AAC, dictate, type, or write. Ask how the characters’ choices lead to the ending. Select holiday pages that fit your students and setting; the book includes Christian, family, and community traditions. The Story Questions Who Who are the characters, and what does one want? Where Where does the story happen? When When does it happen? What What event or problem changes the situation? Why What causes the change or motivates someone? Resolution What do the characters try, and how does the story end? A resolution can solve the problem, change a plan, or show how someone accepts what cannot be changed. It should follow from the events. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Our Model The Runaway Hat Who Nina, her brother, and a friend. Where At an outdoor Halloween celebration. When On a windy autumn afternoon. What Nina’s costume hat blows away. Why A gust lifts it from her head. Resolution They follow the hat and ask an adult to help retrieve it safely. These answers form one possible story. The picture can support many others. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Our Model Story The Runaway Hat Nina wore a tall purple hat to the Halloween celebration. She walked past decorated car trunks with her brother and a friend. The air smelled like fallen leaves, and the wind pushed at her costume. A gust lifted the hat from Nina’s head. It rolled across the grass and caught on a low tree branch. Nina wanted to climb up, but her brother asked a nearby adult for help. The adult reached the branch from the ground and handed the hat back. Nina thanked the adult. Her friend found a ribbon in the costume bag and tied it gently under the hat. Nina wore it for the rest of the celebration, even when the wind blew again. Beginning: We meet Nina at the celebration. Middle: The wind causes a problem. Resolution: The group retrieves the hat safely and secures it with a ribbon. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

01 Trunk or Treat What happens when a child reaches the decorated car trunk? Halloween • Words to consider: trunk • costume • bucket • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Trunk or Treat Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resoluti How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

on. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

02 The Runaway Hat Where does the pointed hat go when the wind blows? Halloween • Words to consider: gust • chasing • costume • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

The Runaway Hat Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

03 The Pumpkin Visitor What is hiding near the glowing pumpkin? Halloween • Words to consider: jack-o-lantern • peeking • porch • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

The Pumpkin Visitor Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

04 The Costume Mix Up How did the dog get a piece of the costume? Halloween • Words to consider: cape • crown • costume • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

The Costume Mix Up Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

05 The Extra Place Who is the extra place at the table for? Thanksgiving • Words to consider: neighbor • setting • welcome • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

The Extra Place Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

06 Bread for the Table Will the bread be ready in time for dinner? Thanksgiving • Words to consider: dough • rolling • tray • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Bread for the Table Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

07 The Community Meal How can everyone help at the community meal? Thanksgiving • Words to consider: volunteer • serving • community • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

The Community Meal Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

08 A Thank You Note Who will receive the thank-you note? Thanksgiving • Words to consider: grateful • card • glancing • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

A Thank You Note Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

09 The Elf’s Defense Was the elf really responsible for the glitter? Christmas • Words to consider: glitter • pawprints • blamed • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

The Elf’s Defense Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

10 Cookies for Santa Who has been enjoying the cookies? Christmas • Words to consider: crumbs • peeking • enjoying • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Cookies for Santa Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

11 Choosing the Gift Which gift will mean more to the person receiving it? Christmas • Words to consider: choosing • thoughtful • gift • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Choosing the Gift Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

12 The Christmas Story What does a child notice in the Nativity scene? Christmas • Words to consider: Nativity • manger • reflecting • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

The Christmas Story Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

13 A Gift for Another Child How will a wrapped gift reach another child? Christmas • Words to consider: donating • wrapped • generous • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

A Gift for Another Child Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

14 Tangled Lights How will the family untangle the lights? Christmas • Words to consider: tangled • strand • decorating • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Tangled Lights Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

15 Eggs for His Little Sister Why does the older brother share his eggs? Easter • Words to consider: sharing • basket • courtyard • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Eggs for His Little Sister Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

16 The Rabbit in the Basket How did a rabbit get into the basket? Easter • Words to consider: hopped • hidden • basket • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

The Rabbit in the Basket Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

17 Spring Morning What makes this spring morning special? Easter • Words to consider: blooming • greeting • peaceful • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Spring Morning Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

18 The Last Egg Who will find the last hidden egg? Easter • Words to consider: tucked • searching • spotted • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

The Last Egg Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

19 A Card for Grandma How will Grandma react to the handmade card? Mother’s Day • Words to consider: handmade • offering • grandmother • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

A Card for Grandma Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

20 Breakfast for a Caregiver Can the children carry breakfast without spilling it? Mother’s Day • Words to consider: tray • caregiver • carefully • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Breakfast for a Caregiver Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

21 Planting Together What will the child and caregiver grow together? Mother’s Day • Words to consider: seedling • soil • watering can • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Planting Together Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

22 The Favorite Story Why is this story their favorite? Mother’s Day • Words to consider: bookmark • reading • together • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

The Favorite Story Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

23 Grandpa’s Wagon How will Grandpa and the child fix the wagon? Father’s Day • Words to consider: repairing • wheel • steady • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

Grandpa’s Wagon Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

24 A Picnic Together What do they need before the picnic can begin? Father’s Day • Words to consider: picnic • blanket • carrying • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

A Picnic Together Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

25 The Pancake Lesson What happens during the pancake lesson? Father’s Day • Words to consider: batter • pouring • apron • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

The Pancake Lesson Use your plan. Connect the cause, the characters’ choices, and the resolution. You may change your plan as you write. Beginning Introduce the characters, place, and time. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Middle Tell what happens, why, and what the characters try. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Show what happens because of their choices. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Read it again: □ The setting is clear. □ The events connect. □ The ending follows from the story. How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor

26 The Photo Surprise What story do the photographs tell? Father’s Day • Words to consider: frame • presenting • surprise • My own word: ____________________ Who are the characters, and what does one want? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where does the story happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ When does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What happens first? What problem or change follows? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why does it happen? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do the characters try? How is the problem resolved? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How to Build a Story Holiday Edition for Elementary Students • Rebecca Taylor