Narrative Beginnings

Answer Key - Grade 3 Writing Worksheet

Circle the answer, or write your answer on the lines.

1. 1.

   Story plan: Priya hears a kitten behind the school library. Which opening introduces the character and the setting?

   • The library was quiet except for the clock.
   • Priya has always wanted a pet of her own.
   • In the end, the kitten had a new home.
   • Priya was stacking books in the school library when she heard a tiny meow.
2. 2.

   Ellie's class is putting on a puppet show. Which opening makes the problem clear right away?

   • Everyone clapped when the curtain closed.
   • The class practiced their puppet show every Friday.
   • Ellie reached into the box, but the dragon puppet was missing.
   • Ellie had made her dragon puppet out of green socks.
3. 3.

   Which first sentence is the best hook for Grace's science fair story?

   • Grace made a volcano for the science fair.
   • Grace woke up early on the day of the science fair.
   • The science fair was held in the gym on Friday.
   • Three minutes before the judges arrived, Grace's volcano began to leak.
4. 4.

   This story starts too late: "Then Rosa carried the fixed bird feeder back outside." Which sentence should come before it?

   • A storm knocked Rosa's bird feeder off its hook.
   • The birds came back to the feeder the next day.
   • Rosa watched a blue jay land on the fixed feeder.
   • Grandma took a photo of the busy feeder.
5. 5.

   Write the beginning of a story about a class pet that gets out of its cage. Start with a hook, then tell who and where, then show the problem.

   Hook

   Who and where

   The problem

   the beginning has a hook, names a character and the classroom, and shows the pet getting out.