JOURNEY:
A Wordless Adventure Book to Spark A Child's Imagination!

Learning Goals:
We will learn how to write an adventure narrative, using a scaffold to help us structure the beginning, middle, and end.
Background:
Students were shown this wordless picture book, from beginning to end. We were all silent, at first just using our imagination to create the entire story in our heads, from beginning to end. After the first run through, we compiled a list of adjectives and social studies vocabulary that we learned from our Medieval Times unit on chart paper. Then, I also showed the students how to write and space their work using quotation marks.
Next, I began at the beginning of the story. The students looked at the first page, and began to write their own version.....we continued this process until the last page.
Finally, students read their work out loud to another student, focusing on whether or not their stories were clear and made sense. They also worked on their editing checklists (co-created before during our narrative units). Students gave other students "two stars and a wish" to help them improve their stories.
The stories that appear below are NOT edited. Students did a TERRIFIC job and wanted to share with the world!
We will learn how to write an adventure narrative, using a scaffold to help us structure the beginning, middle, and end.
Background:
Students were shown this wordless picture book, from beginning to end. We were all silent, at first just using our imagination to create the entire story in our heads, from beginning to end. After the first run through, we compiled a list of adjectives and social studies vocabulary that we learned from our Medieval Times unit on chart paper. Then, I also showed the students how to write and space their work using quotation marks.
Next, I began at the beginning of the story. The students looked at the first page, and began to write their own version.....we continued this process until the last page.
Finally, students read their work out loud to another student, focusing on whether or not their stories were clear and made sense. They also worked on their editing checklists (co-created before during our narrative units). Students gave other students "two stars and a wish" to help them improve their stories.
The stories that appear below are NOT edited. Students did a TERRIFIC job and wanted to share with the world!
JOURNEY
BY: DREXLER 2014
It was a boring October in New York City in 1995. It was quiet on the street. A girl named Bella was bored sitting outside. She was 10 years old and was in grade 4. Her family was inside her house busy minding their own business. Bella had no friends. She was really miserable. Instead, Bella decided to go in her 3 floor house. 5 minutes later, Bella went to her mom in the kitchen and asked a question.
“Mom, could we go outside and play in the park?” Asked Bella
“I can’t right now.” Replied Bella’s mom, "I have to cook supper. Why not you ask your dad to play with you?”
“Sure, mom.” Replied Bella
Next, Bella went upstairs to her dad’s mini library where her dad works on the computer. When she went inside, there were documents, reports, books, and her dad using the big old Microsoft computer.
Bella’s dad was a genius business man, also a reporter, and a office worker.
He earned lots of profit in his job.
Bella went to her dad and asked
“Do you want to play baseball with me?”
Bella’s dad replied. “Sorry honey. I can’t play right now. I have to write a report about Russia, Europe, Afghanistan, Portugal, Canada, The United States, Africa, Philippines, China, North Korea and South Korea. I also have to write about a car company including Volkswagen, Ferrari, Toyota,and Honda. Why not you ask your sister to play with you?”
Bella replied. “Fine, I will ask her.”
Five minutes later, she went to the living room. Her sister was lying down on the couch. Bella’s sister was 15 years old and she was in high school. Bella asked her sister if she wants to play with her. Her sister replied no because she had lots of homework from school. Bella was feeling sad. She went to her bedroom and sat down on her red bed. About a halve an hour later, a mysterious black cat entered her bedroom. The cat was holding a big red marker that was the size of a 30 cm ruler. Bella was suspicious; she did not know who the black cat was and who it belonged to. The black cat left Bella’s bedroom and escaped out of the house.
Bella was curious. She picked up the marker and drew a red door on the wall of her house. Bella thought. “I may get in trouble for this.”
All of the sudden, the door Bella drew opened magically! Bella figured out that the red marker was magical. She went through the red door and exited out of her bedroom. When she went in the door, she was in a forest! The forest had Chinese lanterns that lighted up the forest.
Bella thought. “I must be in Asia.”
Bella saw many species of animals like birds, deer’s, and rabbits. When Bella was walking through the forest, she saw a blue river with a dock with no boats parked their. Bella wanted to go through the river on a boat so she drew a red boat with her red marker. She also drew oars to make the boat drift. She was making a rowboat. Bella hoped in the boat and started rowing her boat across the river.
2 hours later, Bella and her rowboat exited out of the forest and they were heading towards a majestic city. The city was really big. It had walls made from gold, ships, lots of citizens, mansions, and huge towers. The city wasn’t modern like New York City, but everything was pretty magical.
Bella and her boat were heading towards the entrance of the city. Bella entered inside the city and saw the roads were only water and so the only transportation would be boats and ships. Bella saw big houses and the citizens around her were saluting her and they tried to be welcome.
She was in paradise! When she was busy looking around the city, she and her boat was heading toward a dead end of the road that leaded to a ditch that is 182,419 meters deep. Every single citizen panicked!
Before Bella went to the ditch, she quickly drew a hot air balloon that is red with her magic marker. Bella hoped into the hot air balloon just before her rowboat fell into the ditch. The rowboat fell into the ditch and exploded into pieces once it landed into the end of the ditch. Bella’s heart was beating fast and she was proud she survived.
“That could have been deadly if I didn’t draw this hot air balloon.” Said Bella
15 minutes later, Bella saw 3 unidentified flying objects following a purple bird. Bella finally figured out that these flying objects are flying ships! Then, Bella saw 3 unknown gentlemen on the flying ship carrying nets. They were trying to catch the purple bird. Bella cried out. “What are you doing?”
One of the gentlemen shouted.
“We are trying to catch the rarest species of that purple bird! You don’t see these birds that often so they are hard to find!
“Well, thanks for letting me know!” shouted Bella.
Five minutes later, Bella saw the gentlemen finally catching the purple bird. They locked the bird in a golden cage using a golden key. They delivered it to the other flying ship and 2 guards came and protected the bird.
Bella landed her hot air balloon and sneaked to the bird cage without the guards seeing her. Bella unlocked the cage and released the bird away from the flying ship. While Bella released the bird, she accidentally dropped her magic crayon. The crayon dropped down away from the flying ship. The guards grabbed
Bella’s hands tightly. Bella was crying.
“This means a punishment!” shouted one of the guards
Bella was locked in a huge golden cage and she couldn’t escape! Bella thought. “How am I going to get the red magical marker?”
It was turning into night. An hour later,the purple bird came back with her magic marker! She was saved. The bird gave Bella the magic marker back. Bella drew a key and unlocked the cage she was in.
“Freedom!” shouted Bella happily
Bella drew a red magic carpet and flew away from the flying ship. Bella followed where the purple bird went. Bella looked down and saw that she was flying over a desert. The purple bird went down to a palm tree that was in the desert. Bella parked her magic carpet down on the floor. Bella went out of the carpet and saw a purple door built in the palm tree!
Bella went in the door and the purple bird went with her. When she entered the door, she figured out that she was in her hometown. The purple bird flew to a boys shoulder. The boy was holding a purple marker.
“Hello there!” said the boy
“My name is Jack.”
“Do you want to play with me?”
“Sure!” replied Bella
Bella figured out that they both have magic markers so they both drew a 2 seat wheeler bike and rode together happily ever after.
The End
BY: DREXLER 2014
It was a boring October in New York City in 1995. It was quiet on the street. A girl named Bella was bored sitting outside. She was 10 years old and was in grade 4. Her family was inside her house busy minding their own business. Bella had no friends. She was really miserable. Instead, Bella decided to go in her 3 floor house. 5 minutes later, Bella went to her mom in the kitchen and asked a question.
“Mom, could we go outside and play in the park?” Asked Bella
“I can’t right now.” Replied Bella’s mom, "I have to cook supper. Why not you ask your dad to play with you?”
“Sure, mom.” Replied Bella
Next, Bella went upstairs to her dad’s mini library where her dad works on the computer. When she went inside, there were documents, reports, books, and her dad using the big old Microsoft computer.
Bella’s dad was a genius business man, also a reporter, and a office worker.
He earned lots of profit in his job.
Bella went to her dad and asked
“Do you want to play baseball with me?”
Bella’s dad replied. “Sorry honey. I can’t play right now. I have to write a report about Russia, Europe, Afghanistan, Portugal, Canada, The United States, Africa, Philippines, China, North Korea and South Korea. I also have to write about a car company including Volkswagen, Ferrari, Toyota,and Honda. Why not you ask your sister to play with you?”
Bella replied. “Fine, I will ask her.”
Five minutes later, she went to the living room. Her sister was lying down on the couch. Bella’s sister was 15 years old and she was in high school. Bella asked her sister if she wants to play with her. Her sister replied no because she had lots of homework from school. Bella was feeling sad. She went to her bedroom and sat down on her red bed. About a halve an hour later, a mysterious black cat entered her bedroom. The cat was holding a big red marker that was the size of a 30 cm ruler. Bella was suspicious; she did not know who the black cat was and who it belonged to. The black cat left Bella’s bedroom and escaped out of the house.
Bella was curious. She picked up the marker and drew a red door on the wall of her house. Bella thought. “I may get in trouble for this.”
All of the sudden, the door Bella drew opened magically! Bella figured out that the red marker was magical. She went through the red door and exited out of her bedroom. When she went in the door, she was in a forest! The forest had Chinese lanterns that lighted up the forest.
Bella thought. “I must be in Asia.”
Bella saw many species of animals like birds, deer’s, and rabbits. When Bella was walking through the forest, she saw a blue river with a dock with no boats parked their. Bella wanted to go through the river on a boat so she drew a red boat with her red marker. She also drew oars to make the boat drift. She was making a rowboat. Bella hoped in the boat and started rowing her boat across the river.
2 hours later, Bella and her rowboat exited out of the forest and they were heading towards a majestic city. The city was really big. It had walls made from gold, ships, lots of citizens, mansions, and huge towers. The city wasn’t modern like New York City, but everything was pretty magical.
Bella and her boat were heading towards the entrance of the city. Bella entered inside the city and saw the roads were only water and so the only transportation would be boats and ships. Bella saw big houses and the citizens around her were saluting her and they tried to be welcome.
She was in paradise! When she was busy looking around the city, she and her boat was heading toward a dead end of the road that leaded to a ditch that is 182,419 meters deep. Every single citizen panicked!
Before Bella went to the ditch, she quickly drew a hot air balloon that is red with her magic marker. Bella hoped into the hot air balloon just before her rowboat fell into the ditch. The rowboat fell into the ditch and exploded into pieces once it landed into the end of the ditch. Bella’s heart was beating fast and she was proud she survived.
“That could have been deadly if I didn’t draw this hot air balloon.” Said Bella
15 minutes later, Bella saw 3 unidentified flying objects following a purple bird. Bella finally figured out that these flying objects are flying ships! Then, Bella saw 3 unknown gentlemen on the flying ship carrying nets. They were trying to catch the purple bird. Bella cried out. “What are you doing?”
One of the gentlemen shouted.
“We are trying to catch the rarest species of that purple bird! You don’t see these birds that often so they are hard to find!
“Well, thanks for letting me know!” shouted Bella.
Five minutes later, Bella saw the gentlemen finally catching the purple bird. They locked the bird in a golden cage using a golden key. They delivered it to the other flying ship and 2 guards came and protected the bird.
Bella landed her hot air balloon and sneaked to the bird cage without the guards seeing her. Bella unlocked the cage and released the bird away from the flying ship. While Bella released the bird, she accidentally dropped her magic crayon. The crayon dropped down away from the flying ship. The guards grabbed
Bella’s hands tightly. Bella was crying.
“This means a punishment!” shouted one of the guards
Bella was locked in a huge golden cage and she couldn’t escape! Bella thought. “How am I going to get the red magical marker?”
It was turning into night. An hour later,the purple bird came back with her magic marker! She was saved. The bird gave Bella the magic marker back. Bella drew a key and unlocked the cage she was in.
“Freedom!” shouted Bella happily
Bella drew a red magic carpet and flew away from the flying ship. Bella followed where the purple bird went. Bella looked down and saw that she was flying over a desert. The purple bird went down to a palm tree that was in the desert. Bella parked her magic carpet down on the floor. Bella went out of the carpet and saw a purple door built in the palm tree!
Bella went in the door and the purple bird went with her. When she entered the door, she figured out that she was in her hometown. The purple bird flew to a boys shoulder. The boy was holding a purple marker.
“Hello there!” said the boy
“My name is Jack.”
“Do you want to play with me?”
“Sure!” replied Bella
Bella figured out that they both have magic markers so they both drew a 2 seat wheeler bike and rode together happily ever after.
The End
JOURNEY
BY: Sean 2014
Once upon a time, it was a glooming morning in New York City. It was 2004 in her country. When Linda was playing with Joe, he didn’t want to play with her anymore because he found a gorgeous purple marker lying down on the streets. She felt sad and lonely on her door steps and started crying. And sadly crying as she was heading toward her house.
When Linda entered her house she told her mom sadly to play with her, but she said
“NO! I’m busy cooking supper for the family I’m also talking to somebody on the phone sorry sweetheart” replied Linda’s mom. Why don’t you ask your father he might play with you? Ok! said Linda.
Then when Linda asked his dad to play with her he also said “No, I can’t play with you right now because I’m doing my resume for my work this is important to me! Replied her dad.
After a while she asked her sister Amanda to play with her but she also said “No Linda I can’t play with you because I’m too lazy to play with you also I’m texting my friends sorry. Replied her sister.
Next, she felt sad that none of her family would like to play with her.
As, she was lonely on her room a weird mysterious cat just went to her room and gave her a red marker.
She was so suspicious of the marker that if she wants to pick it up or not.
Now, when she picked the marker up she felt magical power surging in through her body. Instead she didn’t want to draw on a paper and drew a door in the wall it was so magical that she was so amazed about.
When she drew a magical door on the wall it shows a forest and Linda entered the door to the forest.
When Linda opened the door there it is, it was a glooming forest with beautiful flowers and also blue lanterns hanging on the gorgeous trees.
When she walked and walked through the forest she ended up in a dock and drew a boat to drift around the stream.
Now, the boat ended up in a majestic palace.
She saw a beautiful view about the palace also a portcullis opened up for her and drifted the castle streams.
When she entered the palace, she was amazed about people working and saluting her.
She saw a beautiful waterfall raging down the palace wall and also saw people drifting to go somewhere on the palace streams. The lock ended, Linda was so scared that she’s going to fall off the crushing waterfall.
When she fell from the waterfall, she quickly pulled out her magic marker and drew something in the air that could save her from falling.
“Phew, I’m saved!” said Linda. She was riding a majestic hot air balloon. She was soaring through the air like a beautiful bird.
Next, she saw two things. One is a weird flying ship on the air. Secondly, she saw a gorgeous bird soaring through the air.
Linda kept on following and following the bird until it stops on his destination.
When she was following the purple bird, she pulled out her red marker in case something will happen to her.
After a while, the weird blimps are trying to catch the beautiful purple bird with a long net. “Yes, I got the suspicious bird!” replied the bird catchers.
Then, Linda saw the purple bird was caught and put him in the cage and locked him with a golden key.
Guards were guarding the cage until their boss comes and get it. They were so suspicious and scary while they were standing.
Linda saw the purple bird in the cage so she went up the tower to save him. Linda told the purple bird, “Don’t worry, I will save you.
It was on the golden shrine. It was so majestic when she saw it. She said “Wow!” The guard saw Linda and tried to chase her.
When she quickly took away the purple bird, she said “Nana nana” she laughed and went away.
Then after a while when she arrived at the dock, she dropped the marker from her hand and let the purple bird get away from the ship. “Oh no, my marker!” said Linda. When the purple bird flew away, the soldiers placed handcuffs on Linda’s hands.
Next, the soldiers quickly put Linda in the cage hanging under the weird flying ship.
A miracle happened. Now, the bird took the red marker in the air while falling.
Then, she drew a flying object so she could get down from the flying ship. It was a flying carpet she drew. “Cool! I drew a flying carpet”, said Linda.
Linda followed the purple bird, so she could back home safely with her family.
Now, she left the majestic palace safely and followed the purple bird through the sandy desert. The bird was ready to land on the palm tree.
Next, she landed on the palm tree safely with the purple bird. Linda said “That’s strange why would there be a palm tree in a desert weird? Said Linda in an expressional way.
Then she entered the purple door.
The purple bird went in with Linda also.
Finally, Linda exited the mailbox safely on her city of New York.
Linda was shocked that the purple bird belonged to her best friend Joe. Joe that’s your bird. Said Linda. Yes! Said Joe.
Together they make a two chair bicycle tat ha a red wheel and the other is a purple wheel.
They set of with their bicycle and decided their next journey together.
THE END
BY: Sean 2014
Once upon a time, it was a glooming morning in New York City. It was 2004 in her country. When Linda was playing with Joe, he didn’t want to play with her anymore because he found a gorgeous purple marker lying down on the streets. She felt sad and lonely on her door steps and started crying. And sadly crying as she was heading toward her house.
When Linda entered her house she told her mom sadly to play with her, but she said
“NO! I’m busy cooking supper for the family I’m also talking to somebody on the phone sorry sweetheart” replied Linda’s mom. Why don’t you ask your father he might play with you? Ok! said Linda.
Then when Linda asked his dad to play with her he also said “No, I can’t play with you right now because I’m doing my resume for my work this is important to me! Replied her dad.
After a while she asked her sister Amanda to play with her but she also said “No Linda I can’t play with you because I’m too lazy to play with you also I’m texting my friends sorry. Replied her sister.
Next, she felt sad that none of her family would like to play with her.
As, she was lonely on her room a weird mysterious cat just went to her room and gave her a red marker.
She was so suspicious of the marker that if she wants to pick it up or not.
Now, when she picked the marker up she felt magical power surging in through her body. Instead she didn’t want to draw on a paper and drew a door in the wall it was so magical that she was so amazed about.
When she drew a magical door on the wall it shows a forest and Linda entered the door to the forest.
When Linda opened the door there it is, it was a glooming forest with beautiful flowers and also blue lanterns hanging on the gorgeous trees.
When she walked and walked through the forest she ended up in a dock and drew a boat to drift around the stream.
Now, the boat ended up in a majestic palace.
She saw a beautiful view about the palace also a portcullis opened up for her and drifted the castle streams.
When she entered the palace, she was amazed about people working and saluting her.
She saw a beautiful waterfall raging down the palace wall and also saw people drifting to go somewhere on the palace streams. The lock ended, Linda was so scared that she’s going to fall off the crushing waterfall.
When she fell from the waterfall, she quickly pulled out her magic marker and drew something in the air that could save her from falling.
“Phew, I’m saved!” said Linda. She was riding a majestic hot air balloon. She was soaring through the air like a beautiful bird.
Next, she saw two things. One is a weird flying ship on the air. Secondly, she saw a gorgeous bird soaring through the air.
Linda kept on following and following the bird until it stops on his destination.
When she was following the purple bird, she pulled out her red marker in case something will happen to her.
After a while, the weird blimps are trying to catch the beautiful purple bird with a long net. “Yes, I got the suspicious bird!” replied the bird catchers.
Then, Linda saw the purple bird was caught and put him in the cage and locked him with a golden key.
Guards were guarding the cage until their boss comes and get it. They were so suspicious and scary while they were standing.
Linda saw the purple bird in the cage so she went up the tower to save him. Linda told the purple bird, “Don’t worry, I will save you.
It was on the golden shrine. It was so majestic when she saw it. She said “Wow!” The guard saw Linda and tried to chase her.
When she quickly took away the purple bird, she said “Nana nana” she laughed and went away.
Then after a while when she arrived at the dock, she dropped the marker from her hand and let the purple bird get away from the ship. “Oh no, my marker!” said Linda. When the purple bird flew away, the soldiers placed handcuffs on Linda’s hands.
Next, the soldiers quickly put Linda in the cage hanging under the weird flying ship.
A miracle happened. Now, the bird took the red marker in the air while falling.
Then, she drew a flying object so she could get down from the flying ship. It was a flying carpet she drew. “Cool! I drew a flying carpet”, said Linda.
Linda followed the purple bird, so she could back home safely with her family.
Now, she left the majestic palace safely and followed the purple bird through the sandy desert. The bird was ready to land on the palm tree.
Next, she landed on the palm tree safely with the purple bird. Linda said “That’s strange why would there be a palm tree in a desert weird? Said Linda in an expressional way.
Then she entered the purple door.
The purple bird went in with Linda also.
Finally, Linda exited the mailbox safely on her city of New York.
Linda was shocked that the purple bird belonged to her best friend Joe. Joe that’s your bird. Said Linda. Yes! Said Joe.
Together they make a two chair bicycle tat ha a red wheel and the other is a purple wheel.
They set of with their bicycle and decided their next journey together.
THE END