The Snow Day — Free Printable (Grade 4)

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The Snow Day

Grade 4 W.4.3 5 steps

Standard: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences, including orienting the reader, using dialogue and description, using transitional words and phrases, using concrete words and sensory details, and providing a conclusion.

Name:

Date:

Period:

What to Do

Read the passage carefully. You may underline or annotate as you read.
Review the vocabulary words.
Complete each writing step in order. Follow the instructions and hints.
Use the Self-Check Rubric and checklist to review your work.

Assignment Overview

Write a 3-paragraph story about a snow day. Use sensory details — what you see, hear, feel, smell, and taste — to help the reader experience the day with you.

Vocabulary Bank

Word	Definition
blizzard	A very strong snowstorm with a lot of wind.
bundled	Dressed in warm clothes, wrapped up.
glistening	Sparkling and shining, like snow in sunlight.
trudge	To walk slowly through something difficult, like deep snow.

Writing Steps

1 Plan Your Story (Pre-Writing)

Plan your story:
- What happens? (the main event)
- Who is in the story? (characters)
- Where does it take place? (setting)

You can use bullet points, words, or short sentences.

Imagine waking up and looking outside to see everything covered in snow. You check the news — school is canceled! You have the whole day ahead of you. What do you do? Who do you spend the day with? Does something surprising happen?
Write a story about your snow day. It can be based on a real experience or completely made up. Fill your story with details — what does the snow look like? How does the cold feel? What sounds do you hear?

Before you write, plan the story you want to tell!

Think about:
- What happens in your story?
- Who is in it?
- Where does it take place?

Note: This step helps you plan. 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?
Where does it happen?

Main Idea

Detail / Evidence 1

Detail / Evidence 2

Detail / Evidence 3

2 Paragraph 1: Opening

Write your opening paragraph (2-4 sentences):
- Who is in your story?
- Where does the story take place?
- Help the reader picture the scene

Now write your opening paragraph to begin your story!

A good opening:
- Tells the reader who is in the story
- Tells the reader where it happens
- Makes the reader want to keep reading

Scoring Guidance — Step 2

Role: introduction

Target: ~35 words

Look for:

Who is your main character?
Where does this happen?
What details help the reader see the scene?

Who is your main character?

Where does this happen?

What details help the reader see the scene?

Sentence Starters

One day, ___.

It all started when ___.

The story begins with ___.

Target: about 35 words

3 Paragraph 2: What Happens

Write your body paragraph (3-6 sentences) that includes:
- The main thing that happens in your story
- Details about what you saw, heard, or felt
- Dialogue (what someone said) OR a description of an important moment

Use words like: then, suddenly, after that, next, meanwhile.

Now write your body paragraph — where the action happens!

A good body paragraph includes:
1. What happens — Tell the reader the main event or action
2. Details — What did you see, hear, or feel?
3. Dialogue OR description — Show what characters say or describe an important moment

Use words like then, suddenly, after that, next to keep events in order.

Scoring Guidance — Step 3

Role: body paragraph

Target: ~55 words

Look for:

What is the main thing that happens?
What did you see, hear, or feel?
What did someone say? Try adding dialogue!
Use 'then' or 'suddenly' to connect events.

What is the main thing that happens?

What did you see, hear, or feel?

What did someone say? Try adding dialogue!

Use 'then' or 'suddenly' to connect events.

Sentence Starters

Suddenly, ___.

Next, ___ happened because ___.

Without warning, ___.

Target: about 55 words

4 Paragraph 3: Ending

Write your ending paragraph (2-3 sentences):
- How does your story end?
- How does the character feel at the end?
- Make the reader feel like the story is complete.

Now write your ending paragraph to finish your story.

A good ending:
- Tells how the story ends
- Shows how the character feels
- Makes the reader feel like the story is done

Scoring Guidance — Step 4

Role: conclusion

Target: ~30 words

Look for:

How does your story end?
How does the character feel?
Try: 'In the end,...' or 'After that day,...'

How does your story end?

How does the character feel?

Try: 'In the end,...' or 'After that day,...

Sentence Starters

In the end, ___.

Finally, ___.

Looking back, I ___.

Target: about 30 words

5 Make It Even Better

Review your story and make it better:
- Order: Do events make sense?
- Details: Can you add one more detail?
- Words: Use transition words (then, suddenly, after that)
- Mistakes: Fix any spelling or grammar errors

Edit and submit your final version.

Great job! You wrote your whole story!

Now revise and refine it to make it even better.

Your story below includes:
- Paragraph 1 (Opening): Your setting and characters
- Paragraph 2 (Body): What happens
- Paragraph 3 (Ending): How it ends

Revision goals:
- Do events make sense in order?
- Can you add a detail that helps the reader picture the scene?
- Fix any spelling or grammar mistakes

Scoring Guidance — Step 5

Target: ~120 words

Look for:

Do your events make sense in order?
Can you add a detail about what you saw or heard?
Try adding 'suddenly' or 'then' to connect events.

Do your events make sense in order?

Can you add a detail about what you saw or heard?

Try adding 'suddenly' or 'then' to connect events.

Sentence Starters

One day, ___.

Suddenly, ___.

In the end, ___.

Target: about 120 words

Self-Check Rubric

Criteria	●●●●● 5 — Advanced	●●●●○ 4 — Proficient	●●●○○ 3 — Developing	●●○○○ 2 — Emerging	●○○○○ 1 — Beginning
Ideas	Original, well-developed ideas with depth	Clear ideas with good development	Ideas present with basic development	Ideas unclear or underdeveloped	Off-topic or missing
Evidence	Strong, specific text evidence with explanation	Relevant text evidence cited	Some evidence but vague	Little or no evidence	No text support
Organization	Logical flow with effective transitions	Clear structure with transitions	Basic structure, some transitions	Disorganized	No structure
Language	Precise vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors	Grade-appropriate language, minor errors	Basic language, some errors	Limited vocabulary, frequent errors	Difficult to understand

Before You Turn In

I completed the planning step

I wrote my introduction

My introduction is about 35 words

I wrote my body paragraph

My body paragraph is about 55 words

I wrote my conclusion

My conclusion is about 30 words

I completed Step 5: Make It Even Better

My make it even better is about 120 words

I re-read my writing and fixed any spelling or grammar mistakes

I am proud of this work

Reflection

What was the hardest part of this assignment? What would you do differently next time?

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writingtools.org/printables/narrative4_snow_day_v1