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Literacy · Years 2-4
How can I help children plan a story before writing?
Help children choose a character goal, introduce a problem and connect events to a resolution. The five spaces provide one planning structure; they do not require five paragraphs or limit the child's ideas.
Download: Five-part story planner
A4 PDF · 2 pages · free · no sign-up
Print page 1 for the activity and keep page 2 for teaching notes and answers or suggested responses.
Use A4 paper at 100% or Actual size. Choose by the task and your class; the suggested range is a starting point, not a curriculum-alignment claim.
How to use this resource
- Talk through a character and something they want.
- Use brief notes or drawings to connect the problem, actions and ending.
- Retell the plan aloud and revise any event that seems disconnected before drafting.
Make it easier or add challenge
More support
Plan one shared story orally. Provide the problem and let the child choose the next action and ending.
More challenge
Change one character decision and trace how the later events and resolution would need to change.
What to look for
Can the child explain why one event leads to another? A sequence of unrelated incidents needs more discussion.
Teacher answers and suggested responses
Open-ended. Look for a clear character goal, a problem and events connected by cause rather than five unrelated incidents.
A possible sequence: Jo finds a door; it will not open; Jo asks the caretaker; they discover it is a model; Jo makes a story display around it.
A useful next step
Printing, access and sharing
Allow drawing, discussion, practical materials or usual communication tools where they support the learning aim. Use separate paper if a child needs more writing or drawing space.
Free to print and copy within your school, setting or family. Retain the website credit and share this resource page with other settings.