Teach the Narrative Structure with an Escape Room Adventure

As teachers, we’ve all watched students write a fabulous beginning to a story and then stare at the page, unsure of what should happen next. This situation can be avoided! Explicitly teaching narrative structure (orientation, complication, climax and resolution) is one way to equip young writers with the tools they need to craft clear and engaging stories. And what better way to do that than with an engaging escape room activity from Teach Starter!

This escape room‑style activity turns narrative structure into an exciting mission. Students discover that the pages of a story have flown out the window, leaving the plot in pieces. To restore the lost adventure, they must work through a series of challenges, each one exploring a different part of narrative structure. Only when the final code is deciphered can the lost plot be restored!

By engaging with this resource, students will develop a deeper understanding of narrative structure while collaborating with their peers to work towards a shared goal.

Read on to learn more about implementing this escape room with your students!

Easily Implement This Narrative Story Structure Escape Room

The downloadable resource files contain everything you need to use this narrative story structure escape room with your students. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• Interactive Presentation – This contains four challenges. Students are presented with two examples of an orientation, a complication, a climax and a resolution. To progress in the game, they must choose the best example for each. It can be downloaded as a Microsoft PowerPoint or an editable Google Slides file. 
• Student Workbook – This contains the activities the students will complete to access the numbers required for the escape code. It can be downloaded as a quick-print PDF or an editable Google Slides file.
• Answers PDF – This very secret document is for the teacher’s eyes only and contains answers to all the activities. It downloads as a PDF. 

This escape room activity can be completed as a whole class via interactive whiteboard. If your students have access to their own devices, they can also complete the task individually or in a small group. This will allow each student or group to work through the challenges at their own pace.

Download This Structure of a Story Escape Room Today!

Downloading this resource is quick and easy! Simply click on the files you wish to access using the Download button above, and you’re ready to go – no extra preparation required!

The slide deck can be displayed on your interactive whiteboard, and the workbook can be printed or assigned digitally. Within minutes, your class will be deep in a narrative writing structure adventure, eagerly working to rescue the lost plot and bring the story back together.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources for Teaching Parts of a Story

If you’re teaching parts of a story to your students, you’ve come to the right place! Click below to browse more teacher-created, curriculum-aligned resources to make your writing lessons come alive!

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