Unit Plan 23 (Grade PreK ELA): Writing Narrative Pages with Temporal Words

Focus: First/then/next/finally; add who/where

Grade Level: PreK

Subject Area: English Language Arts (Early Writing • Sequencing • Oral Language)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session (use two short blocks if needed)

I. Introduction

This week children create one-page narrative “stories” by combining drawings, dictation, and early letters. They learn to tell about a small event in order using temporal words—first, then, next, finally—and to add who and where. Through picture sequences, oral rehearsals, and simple publishing, students experience themselves as authors who can plan → say → draw → write.

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…

1. Plan and tell a small real or make-believe event in order using first/then/next/finally (W.PK.3).
2. Add who (character/participants) and where (setting) to their narrative idea (L.PK.1).
3. Compose a page by drawing, dictating, and attempting letters/words to match their spoken story (W.PK.3; L.PK.6).
4. Use topic-related words (e.g., playground, splash, bake) learned from books and talk (L.PK.6).
5. Share with a partner, taking turns and using a complete, short sentence about their page (L.PK.1).

Standards Alignment — PreK

• W.PK.3 Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about events in the order in which they occurred, and provide a reaction.
• L.PK.1 Demonstrate beginning command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when speaking/writing (short complete sentences; who/where).
• L.PK.6 Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, read-alouds, and responses to texts.

Success Criteria — student language

• “I can tell my story in order: first/then/next/finally.” (W.PK.3)
• “I can say who is in my story and where it happens.” (L.PK.1)
• “I can show my story with pictures and words.” (W.PK.3; L.PK.6)