Unit 4 Writing Task

In the imaginary land of The Phantom Tollbooth, Milo encounters all sorts of strange and magical creatures. After dodging demons and rescuing princesses, the boy learns that to find adventure, he simply has to notice his surroundings--and use his imagination.

Think about all the characters whose adventures unfold in The Phantom Tollbooth. Then, use your own imagination to write a new short story about one or more of those characters. 

Use this sentence opener to start your tale:

One day in the Kingdom of Wisdom, ... 

Your story should describe an imaginary setting, include interesting characters, and tell events in a clear order.

For a model of a well-crafted narrative, see the Launch Text, "The Great Universal Undo."

Narrative Planning Organizer

Exemplary Response:

One day in the Kingdom of Wisdom, young Milo found himself sitting on the edge of a sparkling emerald lake. Surrounding him were the peculiar inhabitants of this extraordinary land. There was Tock, the talking watchdog with a large clock on his side, and the Mathemagician, a wise old man who could perform marvelous mathematical feats. As Milo gazed at the majestic purple mountains in the distance, he noticed a tiny figure hopping from one lily pad to another. It was none other than the Humbug, a pompous and self-important creature who was always trying to prove his worth.

Intrigued, Milo followed the Humbug as he led him to an enchanted forest full of vibrant colors and mystical creatures. They encountered the Dodecahedron, a twelve-faced shape with a mischievous grin, who offered to guide them through the forest. As they ventured deeper into the woods, the trees whispered secrets, and the leaves rustled with excitement.

Suddenly, they stumbled upon the Spelling Bee, a bee-like creature with a buzzing voice. The Spelling Bee challenged Milo to a spelling contest, and with every correctly spelled word, they moved closer to a hidden treasure. The air filled with anticipation as Milo carefully spelled each word, feeling the rush of triumph with every victory.

Continuing their journey, they reached the Valley of the Soundkeeper, a place where every sound imaginable resided. Milo marveled as he listened to the symphony of laughter, the melody of birdsong, and the rhythm of raindrops. The Soundkeeper, a serene figure with gentle eyes, shared stories of how she protected these precious sounds, ensuring they were not lost in the chaos of the world.

As their adventures came to a close, Milo realized the true magic lay within the power of his imagination. He had discovered that by noticing his surroundings and embracing the wonders of the Kingdom of Wisdom, he had unlocked a universe of endless possibilities. With newfound confidence, Milo bid farewell to his newfound friends and returned to his own world, forever changed by the extraordinary journey he had undertaken.

Non-Exemplary Response:

One day in the Kingdom of Wisdom, Milo saw some weird creatures. They went to a lake and saw some mountains. Then, they went to a forest. There were more weird creatures there. They went to some other places and did some things. The end.