Heart Tale Teacher Guide Memory Makers
Teacher Guide: Lesson 1
Week 1: Foundations
60-90 Minutes
Program Roadmap
This is Lesson 1 of a 4-week narrative writing unit. Each week adds a new grammar layer:
Week 1: S-V Agreement
Week 2: Prep. Phrases
Week 3: Articles
Week 4: Final Showcase
Learning Objectives
Identify potential personal narrative topics from personal experience.
Identify and apply correct subject-verb agreement in simple and compound sentences.
Draft the "Hook" and "Problem" of a personal narrative.
Key Terms
Personal Narrative: A true story about you.Agreement: When the subject and verb match in number.
Instructional Flow
1
The Spark (15 mins)
Use the Heart of the Tale Slides to introduce personal narratives. Use the "Small Moments" concept—instead of "My Trip to Disney," focus on "The moment I lost my ice cream."
Discussion Prompt:
"What is a time you felt a very strong emotion? Fear, joy, or surprise? That is where your story starts."
2
Grammar Spotlight: Subject-Verb Agreement (20 mins)
Introduce the rule: Singular subjects need singular verbs (usually ending in -s), plural subjects need plural verbs.
Correct
The boy runs home.
Incorrect
The boy run home.
3
The Brainstorm (30 mins)
Distribute the Memory Map Worksheet . Students brainstorm three "Small Moments" and check their S-V agreement as they write their initial hooks.
Differentiation & Support
For Struggling Writers:
Provide sentence starters like "I remember when..." or "One sunny day, my family..." focused on specific nouns to make agreement easier.
For Advanced Learners:
Challenge them to use collective nouns (e.g., 'the team', 'the class') which often require singular verbs despite sounding plural.
Heart Tale Slides Memory Makers
The Heart of the Tale
Our 4-Week Journey
WEEK 1
Subject-Verb Agreement
Building a strong foundation.
WEEK 2
Prepositional Phrases
Adding vivid setting detail.
WEEK 3
Articles (A, An, The)
Polishing the tiny details.
WEEK 4
The Grand Showcase
Your story on the big screen!
What is a Personal Narrative?
A Personal Narrative is a story about a real event in your life.
"It's not just what happened, but how it felt to be there."
First Person
Uses "I", "Me", "My"
True Events
Real memories.
The Grammar Glue
Agreement
The Subject and the Verb must match in number.
Singular
The dog barks .
Plural
The dogs bark .
The "-s" Rule
One person/thing? The verb usually needs an "s" .
More than one? The verb drops the "s" .
"I" and "You" are rebels!
Can you fix it?
1. My brother jump on the bed.
Correct: My brother jumps on the bed.
Can you fix it?
2. The trees sways in the wind.
Correct: The trees sway in the wind.
Memory Map Worksheet The Memory Map
Brainstorming your Personal Narrative
Name:
Date:
1. Finding Your "Small Moment"
A personal narrative focuses on a single moment . List three memories where you felt a strong emotion (Happy, Scared, Excited, Proud). Provide 2-3 details for each.
1
2
3
2. Grammar Check
A Subject-Verb Agreement
Choose the correct verb and finish the sentence.
The story (starts / start) when...
My parents (was / were) very proud as...
B The Little Things
In the sentence below, circle one article (a, an, the) and underline a prepositional phrase (where/when).
"I sat under the old oak tree at noon."
3. Writing the Hook
Write a 3-sentence opening for your favorite story idea. Use the lines below. Circle your subjects and underline your verbs .
Sentence 1 (The Setup)
Sentence 2 (The Emotion)
Sentence 3 (The Problem)
Place Pace Slides Place and Pace
Setting & Prepositional Phrases
Place
Pace
Where are we?
To make a story real, ground your reader in Setting .
What do you see ?
What time is it?
Location & Time Words
The Detail Builders
These phrases show where or when .
During the long winter...
Under the old oak tree...
The Formula
PREP + NOUN
Beyond
Before
Behind
Across
During
Between
Scene Painter Worksheet The Scene Painter
Vivid Settings with Prepositional Phrases
Name:
1. Finding the Phrases
Underline the full prepositional phrases in the sentences below.
My heart pounded inside my chest.
After the final whistle, the crowd went wild.
We walked towards the giant roller coaster at the park.
2. Painting with Words
Think about your "Small Moment" memory. Describe the setting using new prepositional phrases.
Where were you? Prompt: I was standing...
When did it happen? Prompt: The sun was shining...
3. The Mental Snapshot
Draw a quick sketch of your setting. Then, write two full sentences about it below.
Tiny Details Slides Tiny Details
The Magic of Articles
A AN THE
Tiny Helpers
Articles are small words that come before nouns to tell us which one .
Indefinite
A / AN
Any old one.
Definite
THE
A specific one.
"I saw a cat."
"I saw the cat."
The Sound Rule
A
Use before
AN
Use before
Practice Time!
"I reached into ______ bag and pulled out ______ old photo."
Think of the answer... (Next slide reveals!)
The Reveal!
"I reached into the bag and pulled out an old photo."
THE = Specific
AN = Vowel Sound
Final Polish Worksheet The Final Polish
Storyboarding & Grammar Perfection
Name:
Date:
Part 1: The Article Checkup
Fill in the blanks with a , an , or the .
1. Suddenly, loud crash came from kitchen.
2. I saw enormous elephant standing near fence.
3. It was honor to meet famous scientist.
Part 2: Storyboard for Your Slides
Plan your 3 main slides. Write one full sentence for each, checking your grammar carefully.
Sketch 1: The Start
Sentence 1:
☐ S-V Agreement ☐ Articles ☐ Prep. Phrases
Sketch 2: The Middle
Sentence 2:
☐ S-V Agreement ☐ Articles ☐ Prep. Phrases
Sketch 3: The End
Sentence 3:
☐ S-V Agreement ☐ Articles ☐ Prep. Phrases
Grand Finale Slides Grand Finale
Showtime Preparation
Great Slide Design
Less is More
Don't crowd your slide with too much text. Use 1-2 powerful sentences.
Visual Impact
Choose one high-quality image that matches the feeling of your story.
The Grammar Goal
"Every sentence on your slide must be 100% correct. Check your S-V agreement, articles, and phrases!"
The Big Game
In the final minute, the crowd cheers loudly for the team.
Example Slide
Own the Stage
Eye Contact
Look at your audience, not just your screen!
Voice Volume
Speak clearly and slowly so everyone can hear.
Confidence
Stand tall—this is your story and you're the expert.
Final Checklist
Does every subject match its verb?
Did I use "a," "an," and "the" correctly?
Are there prepositional phrases to show detail?
Are my images clear and related to the story?
Narrative Showcase Rubric Narrative Showcase
Performance Rubric
Student Name:
Memory Makers Program
Category Excellent (25) Satisfactory (20) Basic (15) S-V Agreement Perfect agreement throughout all slides. 1-2 minor errors; meaning clear. Frequent errors distract reader. Articles & Phrases Correct articles. Vivid prep. phrases. Some article errors. Basic phrases. Articles missing or prep. phrases absent. Narrative Arc Clear small moment with arc & hook. Story is broadly told; follows sequence. Confusing story; lacks progression. Presentation Loud voice; consistent eye contact. Mostly clear voice; some eye contact. Hard to hear; relied only on slides.
Teacher Feedback
Final Grade
/100
Showcase Teacher Guide Memory Makers
Teacher Guide: Lesson 4
Week 4: The Showcase
Learning Objectives
Design 3-4 cohesive presentation slides based on a storyboard.
Present a personal narrative orally with clarity and eye contact.
Peer-review grammar (S-V agreement, articles, prepositions) on final drafts.
Mastery
The goal is accuracy . Every sentence on the slide should be checked three times for grammatical correctness before presenting.
Lesson Steps
1
Final Grammar Sweep (15 mins)
Use the Grand Finale Slides to remind students of the key grammar goals. Have students exchange their storyboards for one last peer-check.
2
Slide Assembly (45 mins)
Students translate their storyboards into digital slides. Remind them to find images that evoke emotion and keep text minimal but grammatically perfect.
3
The Showcase (30+ mins)
Students present their stories to the class. Use the Narrative Showcase Rubric for assessment. Ensure every student receives positive feedback from at least one peer.
Public Speaking Support
Nervousness
Teach the "Square Breathing" technique (In for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4) to help calm pre-show jitters.
Eye Contact
Advise students who are shy to look at the "foreheads" of their audience members if direct eye contact feels too intense.
Reflection Question:
After the showcase, ask students: "Which part of your story are you most proud of, and which grammar skill felt the most natural to use?"
