Explain the four essential elements of the story -- characters, setting, problem and solution -- are necessary for the reader to understand the storyline. Explain characters are the actors, setting is where the story takes place and that the problem and solution are the ideas that make the story interesting.
Have students focus on writing stories with only one or two characters, initially. Encourage children to write about their parents, siblings, friends or pets; have the children develop the characters by writing about the characters’ specific traits. For example, if a student has a dog that does a special trick, have the child write about what makes the trick special.
Instruct the students to set the story in a place they are intimately familiar with, such as their backyard, favorite play spot or where they spent their summer vacation, so they will have the confidence to write with authority. Have students concentrate on bringing out the detail in the setting to make it interesting to their readers. As an example, if the story takes place in a tree house, have the student describe both the tree and the house.
Have students write about a problem they experienced. Tell the children to explain exactly what the problem was and how the problem came about. Encourage students to focus on the details of the situation that created the problem.
Instruct the children to explain how the problem they experienced was resolved. Encourage students to user their imagination to come up with at least one alternative solution that may have worked to resolve the issue.