Recipe: Kindergarten Authors with LEGO Story Starters

I. PREPARE

Watch once.

Watch twice, but add words! As a class, narrate the story by adding dialogue or just describing the events, or describe the events, then add dialogue. Pause when necessary for students to gather their thoughts.

II. MIX & BAKE

Have you looked at the student writing samples in Appendix C of the Common Core resources? Take a peek at some of the writing samples for your grade level.

The included annotations are particularly helpful for understanding the writing expectations for students. For example, in the above sample from a Kindergarten student, [1] restating the title and [2] choosing their favorite part of the story was emphasized.

You can download a similar worksheet for Elementary Writing here or make your own.

Ask students to draw their favorite part of the 30 second LEGO Story Starter: A Wicked Walk in the Park. With guidance and support, help them write about their favorite part.

III. EAT!

Provide a blank copy of the Elementary Writing worksheet.

Now it's time to let the students author their own story!

It may help to organize the 30 second LEGO story into chunks - a beginning middle, and end - and address the problem and solution.

Then, with guidance and support, the students will get a chance to create their own story. If they need some story starters for help, a copy of The Mysteries of Harris Burdick is always fun. Also, you could start a story with them, stopping before the end, and have the students writer their own ending.

I ordered the visuals on AMAZON & the librarian laminated for me!