Reading Personal Narratives

Students learn the key characteristics of a personal narrative. They read an example of a personal narrative and then analyze how the personality of the author is shown and what changes he undergoes. Finally, they connect to the story by writing a letter to the narrator.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

The Pack contains associated resources for the learning experience, typically in the form of articles and videos. There is a teacher Pack (with only teacher information) and a student Pack (which contains only student information). As a teacher, you can toggle between both to see everything.

Here are the teacher pack items for Reading Personal Narratives:

“Lost in the Fog,” by Irving Bacheller -
Printable version
ELPS Alignment
Attributions

Engage

Overview

In this experience, students learn the key characteristics of a personal narrative. They read an example of a personal narrative and then analyze how the personality of the author is shown and what changes he undergoes. Finally, they connect to the story by writing a letter to the narrator.

Objectives

Identify the key characteristics of a personal narrative.
Identify personality traits of the main character.
Identify the changes undergone by characters in the narrative.

Duration

One or two class periods. You may choose to have the students read the personal narrative at home before beginning the experience.

Vocabulary Words Used in “Lost in the Fog”

mocking: making fun of
bow: front end of a boat or ship
vigorously: with a lot of energy or strength
bellowing: making a loud sound or roar

Authors may choose to write about many different topics. Sometimes, they even write about themselves. In this experience, you will learn about a type of story called personal narrative.

Identify the key characteristics of a personal narrative.
Identify personality traits of the main character.
Identify the changes undergone by characters in the narrative.

Storytelling is a great way to keep a memory alive. Think of a funny, embarrassing, or important memory you have.

Write a brief description of that memory and why it is memorable to you.

Post your answer

Share your response with a partner. What you just wrote is the beginning of a personal narrative.

In your own words, what do you think a personal narrative is?

Discuss student responses. Explain that they will learn more about personal narratives in the rest of the experience.

When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.

The Complete List of Learning Experiences in Personal Narrative Unit.