Narrative Unit

Lesson part A: Writers stretch out small moments in time

==> Listen as I read this piece: I got up. I ate breakfast. I waited for the bus. I went to school. I learned about math and reading. I went on the bus to go home. I played outside. I ate dinner. I read some stories. I went to bed.

==> What do you notice about that piece?

==> It's just a list of many things. It doesn't really paint much of a picture in my head. A writer's job is to paint a picture for the reader.

==> Instead of writing about a lot of things a writer can slow down and stretch out a tiny moment in time.

==> Let's pick this tiny moment, I waited for the bus. Watch how I can stretch out this moment to paint a picture in your head. The door slammed behind me as I raced to the bus stop. It had been raining all morning and there were big puddles on the sidewalk. They seemed to be calling my name. My eyes looked back to see if anyone was watching. With a giant bound I leaped into one of the puddles. The water splashed so high that the muddy water splashed my new clean shirt. Oh would mom be upset when she found out.

==> Let's talk about the difference between the two pieces of writing.

==> In the first one I just told about lots of things, but didn't give you any details. In the second one I only told you about a small moment of my day and I stretched it out so that you could enjoy it as much as I did.

==> Great writers stretch out small moments in time to paint pictures in the reader's mind.

==> Think of a small moment, just one little thing that's happened to you. Turn to your talking partner and tell them about that one tiny moment.

==> Today when you write I want you to try stretching out a tiny moment in time.