Story development is an important lesson for students to learn. Having them use a story map to organize their thoughts and teach them what details to include can be helpful. Utilize your whole class teaching time in writing to teach students how to use a story map, using a graphic organizer for them to write on as they organize their thoughts.
What Needs to be Included on a Story Map
In the middle of the map, the students should write the title of their story. This may or may not be the first thing they write, depending on the student, and whether they know what they want to write about. You may want to encourage your students to write the title for their story last. All around the title, the students need to include details about the setting, the major character, and at least two minor characters.
They also need to include information about the major problem in the story, where the peak action occurs. They should also include information about the turning point, which is where the story begins to resolve. The student needs to then include details about how they will resolve the story, and what the theme or the lesson of the story is.
During authors’ chair, students can have the opportunity to share what they have come up with so far on their story map, and get ideas from other students about what details may need to be included. This promotes a collaborative learning process, and encourages students to talk through their ideas and to be willing to accept new ideas.
Using a Story Map in Class
Once students have thought through each aspect listed on their story map, and added a few details, they are ready to start writing. They should use the story map as an outline, starting with the setting, introducing the characters, develop the problem, solve the problem and explain the lesson. This provides excellent practice for students in using an outline. Although this is not visually organized the same way an outline would be, it gives students practice thinking through their writing before starting, and following a general idea as they write.
Utilize a story map in your class when you introduce prose writing. Allowing students to simply write without any forethought, will produce a story with fewer details that is quite possibly disorganized. Teach students to think through their writing before starting the revision process to produce better written stories and more critical thinkers.
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