High School Narrative Writing
Lesson plans and other teaching resources
| Elementary Narrative Writing | | Middle School Narrative Writing | |High School Narrative Writing|
10 Ways to Tell a Story
An explanation of 10 different narrative viewpoints with examples.
15 Classified Ads We Hope Had Happy Endings
Writing prompt: choose one of these historical ads and construct a narrative that supports it. Include characters, location, and other necessary details. (Teachers may wish to check the ads for appropriateness.)
20 Mystical Bridges That Will Take You To Another World
Creative writing prompt: "I walked across the bridge and ..." The photographs of real bridges on this page are astonishingly beautiful. However, the page also carries ads that may not be appropriate for the classroom. Consider copying the photographs into a new file for classroom use.
27 Magical Paths Begging To Be Walked
Photographs of beautiful paths all over the world, showing a variety of seasons and geography, just waiting to inspire a poem or serve as the setting for a short story. Note: this page carries ads that may not be appropriate for the classroom. Consider copying the photographs into a new file for classroom use.
500 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing
Organized by category.
From Object to Story: Writing a Historical Narrative Featuring an Artifact from One's Family History
Students share observations about the history of familial artifacts. They then research the history and cultural significance of selected objects to prepare their own historical narratives. Includes short reading as prewriting activity. Designed for grades 7-12.
Hands, Hands, Hands - Writing a Narrative Essay from the Perspective of a Particular Hand
The teacher will show pictures of six hands to students (pictures included with other handouts). After a brainstorming session, students will choose one hand that illustrates a particular story from their life. Then students will write a two page narrative essay about this story. These stories will be posted on a class blog to allow for feedback and discussion from classmates. Designed for grades 7-10.
In Search Of Wisdom: An Interview With An Elder
Students develop interview questions, interview someone aged 60 or older, and write a narrative using that person's voice. Designed for grades 6-12.
Incorporating Flashbacks in Narrative Text — The Sinking of the U.S.S.
Indianapolis
Students watch a 2:25 video segment that shows an interview with one of the survivors of the U.S.S.
Indianapolis
who recalls the sinking of the ship and his survival. Students then create an original narrative that utilizes flashback to tell the survivor's story. This lesson is designed for grades 6-12 and includes links to the downloadable video and all support materials.
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood is now part of an elite group of fairy tale crime scene investigators. You remember Humpty Dumpty? He didn't fall. He was pushed. Or so it seemed at first. This idea will work on multiple grade levels.
Narrative, Argumentative and Informative Writing About Baseball
Students compose a one- or two-paragraph scene in which a valuable signed baseball is destroyed. The narrative task is the first of four prompts here. Common Core Standards indicated. Don't miss the extension activity, a video of Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First?" Grades 6-12.
Prewriting Exercises for Personal Narratives
Ten activities for personal narrative writing, grades 7-12.
Ten Narrative Writing Prompts
Prompts based on student life experiences for high school and college students.
Using Personal Photographs to Spark Narrative Writing
The lesson plan asks students to bring in a photograph that has special meaning for them and to write about it. This will work on multiple grade levels.