Level 1: Explore
Reading & Discovery (Spark)
Focus
Entering story worlds through reading and guided discovery. Students build foundational awareness of how stories work by observing characters, settings, plots, and themes.
Program Description
Spark introduces children to the joy of storymaking in this Getting Started phase. Students step into imaginative story worlds while learning to recognize core story elements. Families may select from primary and optional resources based on interest and pace.
Goal
Enhance reading, imagination, and story awareness.
What Students Do
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Start reading a novel from the Dragon & Dinosaur Chronicles; or Williams Family’s Recommended Reading List; or a suggestion from librarians, family, or friends
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Star Life Keepers (Novel #1)​
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Go through Spark’s Storymaking Kit
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Step 1: Meet Spark—Introductory Video
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Step 2: Discover the Basics—Story Elements Worksheet (simplified): Brief Review of Characters, Settings, Plots, & Theme from a favorite book or movie
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Step 3: Imagine New Possibilities—“What If” Scenarios Worksheet
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Step 4: See the Story—Visual Prompts Worksheet
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Step 5: Scene Planner Worksheet
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Complete the first five chapters in the Story Writing: A Workbook of Creative Writing Prompts (based on Star Life Keepers novel)
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Chapter 1: What Is Story? & Story Elements
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Chapter 2: Character
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Chapter 3: Setting
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Chapter 4: Plot
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Chapter 5: Theme
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Primary Resources
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Book of choice
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Story Writing workbook
Optional Resources
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Create a Storymaking Dragons’ Notebook
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A simple, personalized way to capture ideas—like a bucket collecting the rain
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Record rough, non-edited notes—like using a whiteboard or blackboard
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Explore resources on the Resources page (The Storymaking Hub)
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30 free downloadable resources organized by study level
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