Example Unit Outline: Narrative
Writing Focus
Week 1
Narrative (Fairy
Tale/Fable)
Goal: Investigate
what a Fairy Tale looks
like; begin to
brainstorm how to
alter the ending of a
prompted story to
solve the problem.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Mini Lesson Topic:
Mini Lesson Topic:
Mini Lesson Topic:
Mini Lesson Topic:
Mini Lesson Topic:
Mentor Text
Immersion
Mentor Text
Immersion
Planning
Planning
Potential Endings
Drafting
Pair Share
Whole Group Oral
Reading:
Small Group Reading:
Cinderella
Cindy Ellen: A Western
Cinderella
The Giant and the
Beanstalk
Jack and the Beanstalk
Goal: Distinguish
Fairy Tales from other
Narratives.
Goal: Develop a
solution to the
problem in a
prompted story.
Goal: Begin to
develop personal
story ending by talking
it through with a
partner.
The True Story of the
Three Little Pigs
The Three Little Pigs
Compare & contrast
story variations.
Whole Group
Discussion
Chart Ideas,
Characteristics, and
traits of fairy tales.
Whole Class Example:
Flowchart of base
story; brainstorm
potential endings,
Ideas, sequencing of
story.
Differentiation Idea:
Higher/Lower text
Levels
Teacher Talk
Teacher Talk
Teacher Talk
Teacher Talk
Beginning/Middle/End
Sequencing
Fantasy / Reality
Time order words,
first, second, next,
then, etc.
Good/Evil Characters
Problem/Solution
Lesson / Moral
Happy Endings
Sequencing
Beginning/Middle/End
Characters
Setting
Trait: Ideas
Trait: Ideas
Trait: Organization
Trait: Organization
Review base story,
begin drafting
alternate ending by
sharing with a partner.
Differentiation Idea:
Alternative story
dynamics based on
student ability.
Teacher Talk
Conclusion/Ending
Sequence
Trait:
Ideas/Organization
Writing Focus
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Week 2
Mini Lesson Topic:
Continue to draft /
Adding Details
Mini Lesson Topic:
Drafting
Adding Details
Mini Lesson Topic:
Drafting
Adding Details
Mini Lesson Topic:
Drafting/Revision
Conventions
Mini Lesson Topic:
Revision
Conventions
Goal: Draft, revise,
and begin the editing
process.
Goal: Students will
continue to draft their
story endings.
Goal: Students will
add Vivid Verbs using
Number Details where
possible.
Goal: Students will
add Vivid Verbs using
Sensory Details where
possible.
Anchor text from the
previous day’s verb
group using Number
Details.
Anchor text from the
previous day’s verb
group using Sensory
Details.
Differentiation Ideas:
Those who complete
their story will begin
to add details, Vivid
Verbs. Using Number
Details To be used as
an anchor text the
following day.
Differentiation Ideas:
Those who have
completed verbs,
continue with sensory
Details.
Differentiation Ideas:
Those who have
completed their
number & sensory
details will begin to
edit their pieces.
Differentiation Ideas:
Check to determine if
you can alter the
ending marks of your
complete sentences to
give your writing more
voice.
Trait: Word Choice
Trait: Word Choice
Trait:
Trait: Conventions
Teacher Talk
Teacher Talk
Teacher Talk
Teacher Talk
Trait: Sentence
Fluency / Voice
Teacher Talk
Verbs
Nouns
(plural/irregular)
Synonyms &
Antonyms
Synonym & Antonyms
Verb
Verbs
Verbs
Types of Sentences
Punctuation Names
Types of Sentences
Resources:
Add More Details
Add More Details 1
(G:Drive)
Punctuation Walkabout
Punctuation Walkabout
1
(G:Drive)
Lesson Idea; “Add
More Details” (2
documents) located;
G:Drive, “Writing
Curriculum Map &
Resources,” “2nd
Grade.”
Goal: Students will
Goal: Students will
continue to draft their illustrate the concept
pieces, first looking for of sentence fluency by
complete sentences.
using a slinky to
determine sentence
Lesson Idea;
length/variation.
“Punctuation
Walkabout”
Lesson Idea:
(G: Drive)
“Slinky Sentences”
(G:Drive)
Student Handout:
Fluency Assessment
(G: Drive)
Differentiation Ideas:
Advanced students
would be required to
have more descriptive
sentences.
Writing Focus
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Week 3
Mini Lesson Topic:
Edit
Mini Lesson Topic:
Edit
Mini Lesson Topic:
Publish
Mini Lesson Topic:
Publish
Mini Lesson Topic:
Celebration
Goal: Students will
self edit their work
using an editing
checklist.
Goal: Students will
edit their work with a
partner.
Goal: Students choice
their format for
publishing, and begin
to publish their work
to be presented to the
public.
Goal: Students will
continue to publish
their work.
Have students prove
how they solved the
problem.
Goal: Edit, publish,
and share
Resources:
Read Up, Write Down
(G: Drive)
Hearing Punctuation
(G: Drive)
Lesson Idea:
“Read Up, Write
Down”
(G: Drive)
Editing Checklist
(G: Drive)
Editing Checklist
(G: Drive)
Lesson Idea: “Hearing
Punctuation”
Differentiation Ideas:
Move students on to
partner editing.
Differentiation Ideas:
Begin publishing.
Trait: Conventions
Trait: Conventions
Differentiation Ideas:
Students who have
published their work,
can brainstorm
alternative methods
or products to share
their work.
Trait: Presentation
Teacher Talk
Teacher Talk
Teacher Talk
Editing
Editing Checklist
Peer Editing
Publishing
Public
Differentiation Ideas:
Mounted/decorated
work.
Letter to story
character.
Scrapbook of their
Typing on “River
Deep”
Diagram/picture of
their setting
Newspaper snapshot
article
Create a Skit
Child Choice
Trait: Presentation
Trait: Presentation
Teacher Talk
Teacher Talk