Narration, the act of telling back, has long been used by educators to:
- Find out how much a student knows about a subject.
- Encourage a student to interact with what he has read, rather than to read passively.
- Encourage a student to dig for information, or to learn on his own.
There are many different forms narration can take — everything from the informal burst that naturally pours forth from a child interested in his subject to a more formal oral dissertation.
Here are 30 narration ideas:
We have deliberately left them very open-ended so that they can be used in a multitude of ways for a variety of purposes.
- Tell what you have read.
- Describe a character.
- Describe the setting.
- Write a summary.
- Write a description.
- Compare and contrast.
- Ask five questions about what you have read.
- Draw an illustration.
- Create a graphic organizer.
- Make a list.
- Explain.
- Give an example.
- Think of another.
- Prepare an outline.
- Write a biography.
- Write a how-to essay.
- Write a similar short story.
- Evaluate (the writing, the point of view, the decisions of a main character, etc.).
- Design a brochure.
- Create a poem.
- Make a flip book.
- Develop a timeline.
- Create a poster or banner illustrating a motto.
- Make a character trading card (interactive at ReadWriteThink.org).
- Design a model.
- Dramatize.
- Make a prediction.
- Create a storyboard or cartoon (interactive at ReadWriteThink.org).
- List character traits.
- Write a book review.
Bonus (and this one is for us):
Listen. Many times, we will find a child very willing to narrate — he may even have more to say than we will have time to listen to!
Additional Resources
Write Something Every Day: 366 Pencil Sharpeners for Students of Writing
Our book will get you started. This huge 554-pg. resource provides carefully crafted writing prompts and challenges for each day. We use nearly 20 different forms of writing to keep the student engaged. This includes dozens of narration prompts! Also included are writing instruction, tips for modifying assignments for “younger writers,” and other resources. Learn more.
Language Arts the Natural Way: Narrating
You’ll find more on the benefits of narration, along with how-tos, resources, and tips in our Language Arts the Natural Way series.
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