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Mr. A's Writing Tools · writingtools.org
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Mr. A's Writing Tools
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Writing Assignment
My Big Adventure
Grade 3 W.3.3 ~25 min 5 steps
Standard: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences, including establishing a situation, using dialogue and descriptions, using temporal words, and providing a sense of closure.

What to Do

  1. Read the passage.
  2. Look at the Word Bank.
  3. Do each step. Write on the lines.
  4. At the end, circle your stars in How Did I Do?

Let's write a story about an adventure! You'll plan the story, write a beginning, middle, and end, then make it even better so the reader feels like they were right there with you.

Word Bank
WordDefinition
adventure An exciting experience or trip.
explore To look around a new place and discover things.
amazing Very surprising and wonderful.
Writing Steps
1 Think About Your Story
Think about your story:
- What happens?
- Who is in it?
- Where does it take place?

You can write words, draw ideas, or make a list!
An adventure is when you go somewhere or do something exciting! Maybe you explored a forest, went on a trip, found a secret hiding spot, or had an exciting day at an amusement park. Adventures can be big or small — what matters is that something interesting happened.
Write a story about your adventure. It can be real or made up. Help the reader feel like they were there!


Before you write, think about the story you want to tell!

Note: This part is just for thinking. It won't be in your final story.
Scoring Guidance — Step 1
Look for:
  • What will your story be about?
  • Who is in your story?
Main Idea
Detail / Evidence 1
Detail / Evidence 2
Detail / Evidence 3
2 Start Your Story
Write 2-3 sentences to start your story:
- Who is in your story?
- Where does it happen?

Try starting with: "One day..." or "It all started when..."
Time to start your story!

Tell the reader:
- Who is in your story
- Where it happens
- Help the reader picture the scene
Scoring Guidance — Step 2
Role: introduction
Look for:
  • Who is your main character?
  • Where does the story take place?
  • Try: 'One day...'
Sentence Starters
One day, ___.
It all started when ___.
The story begins with ___.
3 Tell What Happens
Write 2-4 sentences about what happens:
- What is the main thing that happens?
- What does a character SAY? Try one talking line, like: "Let's go!" said Maya.
- How do the characters feel?

Try using words like: then, next, suddenly, after that.
Great start! Now tell the reader what happens in your story. This is the exciting part!
Scoring Guidance — Step 3
Role: body paragraph
Look for:
  • What happens in the middle of your story?
  • What does your character SAY out loud? What do they feel?
  • Try: 'Then...' or 'Suddenly...'
Sentence Starters
Suddenly, ___.
Next, ___ happened because ___.
Without warning, ___.
4 End Your Story
Write 1-2 sentences to end your story:
- How does your story end?
- How does the character feel?

Try: "In the end..." or "After that day..."
Almost done! Now end your story.

Tell the reader how the story finishes.
How do the characters feel at the end?
Scoring Guidance — Step 4
Role: conclusion
Look for:
  • How does your story end?
  • How does the character feel?
  • Try: 'In the end...'
Sentence Starters
In the end, ___.
Finally, ___.
Looking back, I ___.
5 Make It Even Better
Read your story and make it better:
- Fix any mistakes you see
- Add words that tell what order things happened (then, next, after that)
- Make sure it sounds good!
You wrote your whole story! Great job!

Now let's make it even better:
- Read it to yourself
- Fix any spelling mistakes
- Add time words (then, next, suddenly, after that)
Scoring Guidance — Step 5
Look for:
  • Read it to yourself. Does it sound right?
  • Can you add 'then' or 'next' anywhere?
Sentence Starters
One day, ___.
Suddenly, ___.
In the end, ___.

How Did I Do?

Circle one box for each step.

2Start Your Story
★★★I did it!
★★☆Almost
★☆☆I need help
3Tell What Happens
★★★I did it!
★★☆Almost
★☆☆I need help
4End Your Story
★★★I did it!
★★☆Almost
★☆☆I need help
5Make It Even Better
★★★I did it!
★★☆Almost
★☆☆I need help

Before You Turn In

I did every step
I checked my spelling
I am proud of this work

Reflection

What was hard? What are you proud of?

For the Teacher

Teacher Guide — My Big Adventure

W.3.3 — Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences, including establishing a situation, using dialogue and descriptions, using temporal words, and providing a sense of closure. · Grade 3 · ~25 min

The student pages use short directions and a How Did I Do? star self-check instead of a printed rubric — most readers at this grade can't parse rubric language yet. Walk through the stars together after the last step. Score finished work against the full rubric below.

Scoring Rubric
LevelWhat it looks like
5 — Advanced Student goes above and beyond what is expected for Grade 3.
4 — Proficient Student does good work that meets Grade 3 expectations well.
3 — Developing Student meets basic expectations for Grade 3. This is the "at standard" threshold.
2 — Emerging Student tries the task but needs more support.
1 — Beginning Student does not yet show understanding of the task.
Step-by-Step Coaching Notes
Step 1 — Think About Your Story
  • What will your story be about?
  • Who is in your story?
Step 2 — Start Your Story
Role: introduction
  • Who is your main character?
  • Where does the story take place?
  • Try: 'One day...'
Step 3 — Tell What Happens
Role: body paragraph
  • What happens in the middle of your story?
  • What does your character SAY out loud? What do they feel?
  • Try: 'Then...' or 'Suddenly...'
Step 4 — End Your Story
Role: conclusion
  • How does your story end?
  • How does the character feel?
  • Try: 'In the end...'
Step 5 — Make It Even Better
  • Read it to yourself. Does it sound right?
  • Can you add 'then' or 'next' anywhere?
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Mr. A's Writing Tools · writingtools.org