ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Teaching Without Frills How to Write an Imaginative Narrative for Kids Episode 4: Writing an Introduction
When you have a great idea for a story, the next step is to write an introduction. This is the beginning of your story, and it’s super important! The introduction helps get your reader excited about your story. If it’s fun and interesting, they’ll want to keep reading!
The introduction also tells the reader about the story’s world. You need to introduce your main character and where the story takes place. You should also give a hint about how the story will feel. Is it going to be thrilling, spooky, or maybe heartwarming? Your introduction should give the reader a clue!
First, you need to grab the reader’s attention. Here are some fun ways to do that: start with a loud sound like “boom” or “bang,” use a conversation between characters, describe an exciting action, or paint a picture with words that make the reader feel like they’re right there in the story.
For example, I might start my story with a sound and some talking: “BOOM! Oh no, was that thunder?” Next, I need to tell the reader about my character and where they are. I want the reader to imagine it all, so I need to be descriptive. Instead of just saying, “Super Megan is a superhero. She’s in a big city at night,” I could write:
“Megan had been at a birthday party all evening and hadn’t noticed that the weather was starting to change. She began walking, hoping she could make it home before it got worse. Soon it was dark. The rain was pouring, and she noticed lightning flashes reflecting off the tall buildings around her. She felt worried. ‘Uh oh. Maybe I should fly instead.’ Megan didn’t like to use her superpowers all the time, but she decided that flying might help her get home more quickly and safely. She started spinning around to transform into Super Megan and then took off into the air.”
Did you see how I made the weather and setting feel exciting and a little scary? I also told you a bit about Super Megan. Now my introduction is ready!
When you write your introduction, remember to start with something that grabs the reader’s attention. Then, describe your main character, where they are, and how the story feels.
Are you ready to keep writing your imaginative story? Stay tuned for the next episode to see how I write about the exciting events in my story!
Create Your Own Story Introduction: Think about a character you would like to write about. It could be a superhero, a talking animal, or even a magical creature. Now, imagine where your story takes place. Is it in a busy city, a magical forest, or maybe on another planet? Write a short introduction for your story. Start with something exciting like a sound or an action, and describe your character and setting. Share your introduction with a friend or family member and see if they want to hear more!
Sound and Action Exploration: Go on a sound and action hunt around your home or school. Listen for interesting sounds like a door creaking, a bird chirping, or water splashing. Think about how you could start a story with one of these sounds. Next, observe actions happening around you, like someone running or a leaf falling. How could you use these actions to start a story? Write down your favorite sound and action and create a mini-story introduction using them.
Story World Drawing: Draw a picture of the world where your story takes place. Include details like the weather, buildings, trees, or anything else that makes your story’s setting special. As you draw, think about how these details can make your story feel exciting, spooky, or heartwarming. Once your drawing is complete, use it to help you write a few sentences describing the setting in your story introduction.
**How to Write an Imaginative Narrative for Kids**
**Episode 4: Writing an Introduction**
After brainstorming and planning a story, you can start writing an introduction, also known as an exposition. An introduction serves a few important purposes. First, it helps engage the reader’s interest in your story. If someone reads your introduction and finds it uninteresting, they may not continue reading.
An introduction also sets the stage for the story. You should introduce the character and setting to the reader, as well as establish the mood. Whether your story is exciting, scary, sad, or sweet, readers should be able to sense that right away from your introduction.
So let’s get started! First, focus on capturing the reader’s attention. Here are a few ways to hook the reader: you can begin with a sound like “boom” or “bang,” use dialogue, present an exciting action, or provide a detailed description that engages the reader’s senses.
For example, I might start my story with a sound and dialogue: “BOOM! Oh no, was that thunder?” Next, I need to introduce my character and the setting. The reader should be able to visualize both, so I must be descriptive. Instead of simply stating, “Super Megan is a superhero. She’s in a big city at night,” I could write:
“Megan had been at a birthday party all evening and hadn’t noticed that the weather was starting to change. She began walking, hoping she could make it home before it got worse. Soon it was dark. The rain was pouring, and she noticed lightning flashes reflecting off the tall buildings around her. She felt worried. ‘Uh oh. Maybe I should fly instead.’ Megan didn’t like to use her superpowers all the time, but she decided that flying might help her get home more quickly and safely. She started spinning around to transform into Super Megan and then took off into the air.”
Did you notice how I created a suspenseful mood by describing the weather and setting? I also provided some background information about Super Megan. My introduction is complete for now.
When you write your introduction, remember to start with a hook to grab the reader’s attention, and then set the stage by describing the main character, setting, and mood of the story.
Are you ready to continue writing your imaginative narrative? Check out the next episode to see how I write about the events in my story!
