Get Your Students to Write a Story with a Lesson

The story with a lesson genre focuses on characters who experience personal growth or learn an important truth by the end of the narrative. These stories often revolve around themes such as honesty, kindness, responsibility or self-awareness – values that resonate deeply with 4th- and 5th-graders. Writing in this genre allows learners to reflect on meaningful life lessons while mastering essential storytelling techniques.

This short story writing project has been designed to support your students in reading and writing literature centered around the theme of character transformation. To complete the project, students will read and analyze the story, The Loudest Sound in the World. They will then analyze the author’s use of narrative techniques and language features before planning and writing an adapted narrative based on the sample text. 

Everything needed to implement this writing project can be found in the comprehensive student workbook. The workbook contains the following:

• Instruction page
• Example short story, The Loudest Sound in the World
• Guided analysis questions 
• Story adaptation ideas 
• Graphic organizers for plot and language planning
• Lined pages for drafting and editing
• Narrative writing checklist
• Assessment rubric

Benefits of Writing Short Stories with Morals

This resource supports students in both reading and writing by providing structured activities that deepen their understanding of narrative craft. It allows students to practice multiple skills while engaging with one resource, such as:

• Reading Skills – Students analyze the sample text to identify character development, plot structure and language features, improving comprehension.
• Understanding Narrative Techniques –  Through guided questions, learners explore how authors use devices and language to convey meaning.
• Planning and Organizing Ideas – Graphic organizers help students structure their own stories, reinforcing logical sequencing and cohesion.
• Creative Writing Skills – Students apply what they’ve learned by drafting an original story, using descriptive language and narrative conventions effectively.
• Editing and Revising – The included checklist teaches students how to review and refine their work, building accuracy and clarity in writing.

Download to Write Stories with a Moral

Ready to inspire meaningful writing in your classroom? Download this story writing project now and give your students the tools to craft quality narratives. Use the dropdown menu on the Download button to access either the quick-print PDF or editable Google Slides version of this resource. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template before accessing it).

For sustainability purposes, please consider printing this workbook double-sided.

More Short Stories Resources for Students

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Get your students to write a narrative paragraph using these topic ideas designed to inspire creativity and confidence in your young writers.

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Narrative Template Pack

Choose a narrative template from our versatile writing planning pack to help your students plan a fantastic piece of writing!