Writing Fiction: Big Dreams, Tall Ambitions (Grades 3-5)

This professional teacher's guide by Lucy Calkins and M. Colleen Cruz is dedicated to instructing upper-elementary school students in the art of fiction writing. Part of the acclaimed "Units of Study" series, this volume helps teachers guide students in grades 3 to 5 to dream up realistic characters, develop compelling story arcs, and manage complex plots. The curriculum encourages young writers to draw inspiration from their own lives and favorite stories, teaching them the foundational tools of show-don't-tell, dialogue creation, and narrative pacing.