Dear Third Graders, We have been doing a fantastic job with our new unit for Writer's Workshop....
Personal Narratives
So far, we learned that a personal narrative brings to life an experience from the author's life through the use of sensory details, feelings, talking, thinking, and sounds. Personal narratives tend to be focused on one event that is significant to the writer. The author shows rather than tells the event by using story elements like characters, setting, and plot.
Often authors write personal narratives about something "big" in their life, firsts (like first time jumping off the diving board or making a basket), times of strong emotions (meeting a new sibling, falling off their bike), or celebrations.
We have worked hard on distinguishing between Watermelon Ideas and Seed Ideas.
Watermelon Topics: very broad, unfocused, too many details, too many moments, not zoomed in
Seed Topics: very specific, focused in or "zoomed in", one specific detail or moment
Watermelon Ideas often have lots of Seed Ideas inside them and we need to pull out the ones that would create the best stories. Stories that will entertain. We worked hard on coming up with some Seed Ideas . I can't wait to read the stories you create!
A great activity to try at home or in the car is retelling a Seed Idea as a personal narrative. Get the whole family involved and have fun with it!
Bear Hugs,
