Curriculum › English Language Arts ›Grade 3

Grade 3 English Language Arts · Level 2, Read Literature Closely and Write Narratives

Develop a Narrative with Dialogue and Description

Use dialogue, character responses, concrete/sensory details, temporal transitions, and an ending/closure to develop real or imagined events.

How the lesson starts: Develop a Narrative with Dialogue and Description

1. Pico paints stories

   Meet Pico, a chameleon who changes color. Pico can turn gray, flat sentences into bright, colorful ones! His first trick: show a feeling instead of just telling it.

2. Show, don't tell

   Jin was nervous. That just tells us. It is gray! Jin's hands shook as he held the microphone. Now we can see he is nervous. Showing lets the reader figure out the feeling.

3. Let's paint a feeling

   Bodies show feelings. Worried people bite their lips and check the clock. Excited people bounce and squeal. Tired people yawn and drag their feet. Proud people stand tall and grin. Pick the action that matches the feeling.