Children’s Story Project

You are going to create an original moral tale for children. Your main character can be a person, animal, or object. Write a story that will interest your readers (children) and make a point they can understand.

For this project, you will do two things:

  1. Write a story for children
  2. Publish that story in a children’s book (with illustrations/pictures)

Half of your project grade will be the 1-2 page (typed) story, and the other will be the children’s picture book of your story. I will grade the two using the rubrics provided.

Typed Story Rubric:

Content / Requirements / Points Possible
Length/ Format / The paper is at least 1-2 pages double spaced.
The paper is written in Times New Roman or Calibri 12pt font with 1 in margins. / 25
Plot / The plot makes sense (order of events in clear). / 20
Conflict / There is a clear conflict that drives the action in the story / 15
Imagery / Descriptions of the setting, characters, etc are vivid and create a sort of “mental picture” in the reader’s mind / 10
Audience / The story is appropriate for children / 5
Grammar / Your work is relatively free of errors in spelling, grammar, usage, mechanics, etc. / 15
Neatness/Creativity / The actual paper is neat (not crumpled up or sloppily done) and shows evidence of effort. / 10

Children’s Book Rubric

Content / Requirements / Points Possible
Title Page / The book has a title page with the following:
  • Picture that represents the story
  • Your name
  • My name
  • Class Period
  • Year
/ 15
Length / The book has at least 10 pages and follows the original typed story / 30
Pictures / The book has at least 10 pictures that accompany the words / 30
Grammar / Your work is relatively free of errors in spelling, grammar, usage, mechanics, etc. / 15
Neatness/Creativity / The book is neat (not crumpled up or sloppily done / NOT DONE ON NOTEBOOK PAPER!) and shows evidence of effort. / 10

Writing a Story

You are going to create an original moral tale for children. Your main character can be a person, animal, or object. Write a story that will interest your readers (let’s pretend they are children) and make a point they can understand.

You will be judged on the basis of these criteria:

  • A conflict sets a chain of events in motion
  • The order of events is clear
  • The events build curiosity or suspense
  • The events build to a climax and to a satisfying resolution
  • The setting establishes a mood or helps readers to understand events
  • The point of view is consistent
  • The descriptions are vivid
  • The story is relatively free of errors in spelling, grammar, usage, mechanics, etc.

Decisions to be made:

  1. What is the lesson to be learned? ______
  2. How would someone learn that lesson?

______

  1. Who is your protagonist? What does he/she/it look like?

______

Planning: Complete the chart to plan your story

Title:
Setting
Place:
Time:
Mood: / Main Character:
Details to describe setting and mood:
Conflict: (The Problem)
Internal External
Beginning of the Problem:
Middle of the Problem:
End of the Problem:
Theme:
Plot Details:
Exposition:
Rising Action:
Climax:
Falling Action:
Resolution:

Getting More Details:

A good short story write can set the scene and create a mood in a few well-crafted lines. To create a setting and a mood, use images and figurative language. Images are sensory details that help the reader to imagine seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching what you are describing. Figurative language includes metaphors, similes and personification.

First, think of a scene from your story. In a sentence, tell what the setting of the scene is.

______

Second, think about what can be seen, heard, touched, smelled, tasted, and felt in this setting. Make a list of images that you can use to describe the setting.

______

______

______

Third, write one simile, metaphor, or personification to describe some part of your setting. Try to create a comparison that evokes a specific emotion or mood.

______

Now use the elements listed above to write a descriptive paragraph for your story.

______

Evaluating each other’s work

Based on the following questions, rate the short story 1-4, with 1 being the lowest and 4 being the highest. For each rating, provide and explanation/pointers as to how the story can improve.

1. The lesson of the story is clear.1 2 3 4

______

2. The order of events is clear (the plot makes sense)1 2 3 4

______

3. The events build curiosity or suspense.1 2 3 4

______

4. The characters are believable1 2 3 4

______

5. The conflict is clear1 2 3 4

______

6. The descriptions in the story are vivid (I can “see” what is happening in the story)1 2 3 4

______

7. The setting established mood and helps the reader to understand events1 2 3 4

______

8. The resolution satisfies the conflict1 2 3 4

______

9. The story is relatively free of errors in spelling, grammar, usage, mechanics, etc.1 2 3 4

______

10. The story is appropriate for the intended audience1 2 3 4

______

Comments: Record at least 3 changes you would make to the story. Remember, BE NICE, but make sure your comments are helpful (i.e. “good work!” is not acceptable)

______