Narrative/story starters Worksheets for Kindergarten

Kindergarten English 12 Printable Worksheets 100% FREE

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Kindergarten narrative writing introduces our youngest learners to the magic of telling stories from their own imagination. Story starters give kindergartners a launching pad—a sentence or scene that sparks ideas about characters, settings, and what happens next.

At age five and six, children are just beginning to understand that every story has a beginning, middle, and end, plus people or animals who do things in a particular place.

These narrative story starters worksheets build that foundation through tracing key story words, filling in blanks, matching elements, and choosing the best opening lines. Two common stumbling blocks at this age are confusing 'character' with 'setting' and forgetting that stories need a problem to solve. Before this skill, kindergartners practice letter formation and simple sentence reading; after mastering story starters, they will move into writing complete short narratives with clear sequencing words like first, then, and finally in first grade. Daily practice with story building blocks turns reluctant writers into eager storytellers.

Worksheet Preview

Browse all 12 printable worksheets below — click any card to open the full page.

Easy

Part A: Trace the Words

Trace each story word by following the dotted lines.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word on the line.

1. A story has a beginning,

2. The person in a story is called a

3. Where a story takes place is called the

4. The problem in a story is called the

Part C: True or False

Read each sentence. Circle True or False.

1. Every story has a beginning, middle, and end.

T F

2. A story can have only one character.

T F

3. The setting tells us when and where a story takes place.

T F

Narrative Writing: Story Starters

Easy

Part A: Trace the Words

Trace each story word by following the dotted lines.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word on the line.

1. The main person in a story is called the

2. A story

3. A good story has a problem and a

4. Words like once, long ago, and one day are good story

Part C: True or False

Read each sentence. Circle True or False.

1. A story must have a beginning.

T F

2. Setting tells us where a story takes place.

T F

3. All stories must end happily.

T F

Narrative Writing: Story Starters

Easy

Part A: Trace the Words

Trace each word carefully by following the dotted lines.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. A story has a

2. The main person in a story is the

3. A short story can also be called a

4. You use a pencil to

Part C: True or False?

Read each statement. Circle True or False.

1. Every story needs a beginning.

T F

2. A story does not need any characters.

T F

3. You can write a story about your pet.

T F

Narrative Story Starters

Easy

Part A: Trace the Words

Trace each word carefully by following the dotted lines.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. A

2. The

3. Stories

4. A brave person in a story is a

Part C: True or False?

Read each statement. Circle True or False.

1. A story can happen in a park.

T F

2. Stories never have animals in them.

T F

3. The end of a story comes last.

T F

Narrative Story Starters

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Story starter: 'One sunny day, a little bear found something sparkly in the fore…

1. The story starter tells us the setting is a

2. The main character is a little

3. The time of day in the story is a

4. The bear found something

5. What might the bear have found? A possible answer is a

6. A good next sentence would tell what the bear

7. The setting tells us WHERE and

8. The main character usually has a

9. A narrative story tells about a

Part B: Match the Words

Match each story element to its meaning.

character

→

how the problem is fixed

setting

→

the person or animal in the story

problem

→

where and when the story happens

solution

→

the challenge the character faces

Narrative Writing: Story Starters

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Story starter: 'On a rainy afternoon, Lily found a tiny door behind her bookshel…

1. The story starter tells us the weather was

2. The main character's name is

3. The time of day is the

4. Lily found a tiny

5. Where was the door? It was behind her

6. A good next sentence would tell what Lily

7. The word 'tiny' describes the

8. The story takes place

9. This story starter makes the reader feel

Part B: Match the Words

Match each story starter to its setting.

One night, a brave knight rode into a dark forest...

→

the sky

Deep under the sea, a mermaid found a lost treasure...

→

the ocean

High in the clouds, a dragon woke up from a long nap...

→

a city

In a busy city, a robot learned how to make friends...

→

the forest

Narrative Writing: Story Starters

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. The

2. A story happens in a place called the

3. The

4. Every good story has a

5. A story

6. The

7. You

8. A fun story makes you want to

9. The middle of a story has the big

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

setting

→

where a story happens

Narrative Story Starters

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. Once upon a time is a way to

2. The

3. A

4. The

5. A story about a princess is a fairy

6. The end of a story is the

7. You need

8. A good story has a

9. The hero tries to

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

Narrative Story Starters

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Read each question and circle the correct answer.

1. Which is the BEST story starter?

2. What does a story setting tell the reader?

3. Which word would BEST start a narrative story?

4. What makes a good story starter?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word on the line.

1. A narrative story tells about something that

2. Good stories have a beginning to introduce the

3. A story starter should make the reader want to know what happens

4. The words 'One stormy night' tell us about the

5. A character, setting, and

Narrative Writing: Story Starters

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Read each question and circle the correct answer.

1. Which sentence would make the BEST next line after 'One day, a rabbit found a golden key'?

2. What is the PURPOSE of a story starter?

3. Which element comes FIRST in a narrative story?

4. Which story starter creates the most CURIOSITY?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word on the line.

1. A narrative writing piece tells a

2. Words like 'suddenly,' 'then,' and 'finally' are called

3. A good story starter introduces the

4. After introducing the character, a story should show the

5. The part of the story where the problem is fixed is called the

Narrative Writing: Story Starters

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. What do we call the person in a story?

2. Which part of a story comes first?

3. Where does a story take place?

4. What does a hero do in a story?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. A narrative is a story with a beginning, middle, and

2. The

3. A

4. Good stories have a problem that needs to be

5. The title tells you what the story is

Narrative Story Starters

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. What is the setting of a story?

2. Which is a good way to start a story?

3. What happens at the end of a story?

4. What does a character need in a story?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. The

2. A story can be about real or

3. When you make up a story you use your

4. Every story needs a

5. The characters in a story can be people or

Narrative Story Starters

What's Included in This Download

12 Printable Pages covering narrative/story starters

Complete Answer Key for easy grading

Printer-Friendly Format in black & white

Variety of Activities to keep kids engaged

Common Core Aligned kindergarten standards

Instant PDF Download - no signup required

What You'll Learn

These narrative/story starters worksheets help kindergarten students develop essential english skills through engaging activities.

Learning Objectives

Story Opening: Create engaging beginnings that hook the reader
Character Introduction: Develop characters with descriptive details and dialogue
Setting Description: Establish where and when stories take place
Plot Development: Build a clear sequence of events with a problem and solution
Creative Expression: Use imagination and personal experiences to craft original stories

Skills Covered

Narrative WritingStory StartersCreative WritingCharacter DevelopmentSettingPlot Structure

How to Use These Worksheets

Download & Print: Click the download button to get the PDF. Print on standard 8.5" x 11" paper.
Start Simple: Begin with easier pages before moving to more challenging activities.
Daily Practice: Dedicate 10-15 minutes each day for consistent learning.
Use Manipulatives: Pair worksheets with physical objects like blocks or counters.
Provide Encouragement: Celebrate progress and effort to build confidence.
Check Progress: Use the included answer key to review work together.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Mixing up 'character' and 'setting'—kindergartners often name a place when asked who is in the story, or name a person when asked where the story happens.
Forgetting that a story needs a problem. Young writers will describe a character doing fun things but never introduce a challenge or something to solve.
Assuming every story must end happily. Kindergartners often refuse to accept sad or surprising endings, which limits their storytelling imagination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a story starter and why should kindergartners practice them?

A story starter is an opening sentence or short passage that gives children an idea to build a story around. For kindergartners, story starters remove the blank-page fear and make narrative writing feel like play. They also teach children that strong stories introduce a character and setting right away.

How do I teach the difference between character and setting to a 5-year-old?

Use the simple phrase 'who and where.' Character is who the story is about, setting is where and when it happens. Practice by pointing at picture books and asking 'Who is this story about?' then 'Where are they?' Repetition with familiar stories like 'The Three Bears' makes the concept stick.

What story words should kindergartners know before writing narratives?

Kindergartners benefit from knowing words like once, story, begin, hero, place, when, where, then, and tell. These appear in our tracing exercises because they form the building blocks of any narrative. Children also need to recognize the words character, setting, problem, and solution as story parts.

Are kindergartners really ready to learn about beginning, middle, and end?

Yes—5 and 6 year olds can absolutely grasp this three-part structure when it is taught with familiar stories and simple language. Folk tales and picture books make it concrete. Mastering this in kindergarten makes first-grade narrative writing, where children write their own short stories, much smoother.

How should I help my kindergartner if they get stuck on a story starter?

Ask 'who, where, and what's the problem' questions out loud. Let your child answer verbally before writing. Drawing a picture of the scene also unlocks ideas. Avoid correcting spelling during this stage—the goal is generating story ideas, not producing perfect sentences. Confidence matters more than mechanics in kindergarten.

Are these worksheets really free?

Yes! All our worksheets are 100% free to download and print. There's no subscription, no hidden fees, and no registration required.

Can I use these in my classroom?

Absolutely! Teachers are welcome to print and use these worksheets in their classrooms. Make as many copies as needed for your students.

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Narrative/story starters Worksheets for Kindergarten

Worksheet Preview

What's Included in This Download

What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

Skills Covered

How to Use These Worksheets

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Frequently Asked Questions

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Worksheet Preview

What's Included in This Download

What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

Skills Covered

How to Use These Worksheets

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Frequently Asked Questions

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