Free Year 3 The Door in the Tree — Narrative Writing
A NAPLAN-style narrative prompt: a small door appears in the trunk of a tree. Students plan the orientation, complication and resolution, then write a complete story. The prompt lists the features of a narrative and the success criteria mirror what markers look for at Year 3.
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- Year
- Year 3
- Subject
- English
- Topic
- Narrative Writing
- Difficulty
- Level 1 · Easier
- Estimated time
- 35 minutes
- Curriculum
- Australian Curriculum
- Questions
- 6
- Answers
- Included, with working
- Format
- PDF (A4) + print
Students will practise
- structuring a narrative with orientation, complication and resolution
- developing a character and setting
- using dialogue with speech marks
- choosing interesting verbs and adjectives
Curriculum: Australian Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.
What's next?
Completed: The Door in the Tree — Narrative Writing
How to use this writing prompt
- Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
- Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
- Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
- Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.
Common questions
Who is this writing prompt for?
Year 3 students (typically ages 8–9) working on narrative writing. It is pitched at level 1 · easier.
Are the answers included?
Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.
How long does it take?
About 35 minutes for 6 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.
Do I need to sign up to download?
No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.
What should we do next?
Try Should Every Classroom Have a Pet? — Persuasive Writing.
Preview
Year 3 · English · Narrative Writing
The Door in the Tree — Narrative Writing
Student name:
Date:
Plan for five minutes, write for twenty-five minutes, then spend five minutes checking your work.
The prompt
On the way home from school, you notice something you have never seen before: a small wooden door in the trunk of the old tree on the corner. It is just big enough for you to crawl through. It is slightly open.
Write a story about what happens next.
A good narrative has:
• An orientation that introduces the character, the setting and the time.
• A complication — a problem or surprise that changes things.
• A resolution that solves the problem and ends the story.
• Describing words to help the reader picture the scene.
• Dialogue with speech marks to show what characters say.
Plan
Answer each question briefly. Your plan should take about five minutes.
Write
Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.
Narrative Writing in other year levels
- A Very Strange Pet — Story Writing
Writing Prompt · Year 2 · Narrative Writing · Getting started
- The Note in the Library Book — Narrative Writing
Writing Prompt · Year 4 · Narrative Writing · Level 1 · Easier
- The Hat That Talks to Animals — Story Writing
Writing Prompt · Year 1 · Narrative Writing · Getting started
- Nobody Believed Me — Narrative Writing
Writing Prompt · Year 5 · Narrative Writing · Level 2 · Standard
About this resource
- Created by
- Success Tutoring
- Last reviewed
- 1 October 2026
- How it was made
- Written by our team
Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.