Classroom · Writing · 3rd to 5th grade

Narrative writing worksheets

A narrative tells a story. It has characters and a setting, a problem, events in order and a solution. Signal words like first, then and finally help the reader follow along.

Download the narrative writing pack(5 pages, color)Ink saver (B&W)

Watch it solved

52 sec · with voice and captions

A pencil works one example of each activity, so you can see how the worksheet goes before you print it. Tap a step to jump to it. The rest of the sheet is left for your child to finish.

Read what the video says

0:00 Let's practice narrative writing, step by step.
0:04 A narrative tells a story. It has characters and a setting, a problem, events in order, and a solution.
0:11 Use the story to fill in the map. Who are the characters? Ali, his mom, the girl and the puppy. What is the setting? The park and Ali's home, one afternoon and the next day.
0:37 Choose a prompt, and circle it: The day everything went wrong. Then use the boxes to plan your ideas before you write.
0:45 Great job! Now print the free worksheet, and finish the rest on your own.

How it is built

CCharactersWho is in the story?
SSettingWhere and when?
PProblemWhat goes wrong?
EEventsWhat happens, in order?
SSolutionHow is it solved?

Model: The Lost Puppy

One afternoon, Ali found a tiny puppy shivering under the slide at the park. It had no collar, and it was getting dark.

Ali carried the puppy home, and his mom helped him make posters. The next morning, they taped the posters to every tree on the street.

That afternoon, a girl knocked on the door. "That's Biscuit!" she cried. The puppy licked her face, and Ali smiled. He had made a new friend too.

Signal words

One day
First
Next
Then
Suddenly
After that
Finally

Prompts to try

The day everything went wrong
A surprise in the backyard
The best day I ever had

Check my writing

My story has characters and a setting.
There is a clear problem.
Events are in order, with signal words.
I used details so the reader can picture it.
The ending solves the problem.
I checked capitals, spelling and periods.

Teaching tip

Tell the story out loud to a partner before writing it. Children who can tell a story with a beginning, middle and end can write one.

Watch for

Stories that are just a list ("Then... then... then..."). Ask, "What was the problem? How did your character feel?"

What the worksheets look like

Narrative writing worksheet, page 1 — Page 1

Narrative writing worksheet, page 2 — Page 2

Writing paper

Primary lines for K-2 and lined paper for 3rd to 5th grade.

Paper(2 pages, color)Ink saver (B&W)

Common questions

How do you teach narrative writing?

A narrative tells a story. It has characters and a setting, a problem, events in order and a solution. Signal words like first, then and finally help the reader follow along. Tell the story out loud to a partner before writing it. Children who can tell a story with a beginning, middle and end can write one.

What grade learns narrative writing?

Usually 3rd to 5th grade. In the Common Core it is part of W.3.3, W.4.3, W.5.3.

What is the most common mistake?