This story elements activity has kindergarten and 1st grade students hear a short story and match picture cards to its characters, setting, problem and solution. Answer key included.
Kids sort story cards with this beginning middle end plot activity for 1st to 3rd grade, then retell the story on a roller coaster plot chart. An answer key is included for easy checking.
This feeling words activity has 1st to 3rd graders read a story, match clue cards to feeling words, and practice naming how characters feel. An answer key is included.
In this describing characters beginning middle and end activity, 1st to 3rd Grade students order story cards and name feelings. Answer key included.
This describe characters and setting activity has kindergarten and 1st grade students sort story clue cards, then draw from describing words. Answer key included.
This character setting plot activity has 1st to 3rd graders read a short story, sort story cards by element, and order the plot. Answer key included for quick checking.
Use this key details for comprehension activity with Kindergarten to 3rd grade readers to find characters, setting, problem and solution in a story. Answer key included, so checking work is quick.
This point of view activity has 1st-4th grade students hold up Character or Narrator signs to show who is telling each scene. Fold-over cards check the clue words, and an answer key is included.
This how does the character respond activity for 1st to 3rd grade pairs a read-aloud story with a match game and a reusable organizer. Answer key included.
Using My Point of View Activity, students distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters.
Use this key details story elements text activity with kindergarten and 1st grade readers. Children hear a treasure story and match question cards to answer cards; an answer key is included.
Using thisSilly Stories Story Starters, studentschoose a Character, Setting and Plot from the picture and word cards to write or tell a story about the fun and unique combination.
This how are they the same compare and contrast story elements activity has 1st-3rd Grade readers sort 16 detail cards from two Otter and Beaver stories. Answer key included.
This spin and answer story elements activity helps Preschool to 1st grade children find characters, setting, problem and solution with a spinner and picture cards. Answer key included.
Using Story Elements Organizing What You Read Activity, students use activity worksheets and graphic organizers to describe the characters, setting and events.
Using this Question Cards for Reading Books Activity, students answer questions aboutkey details in a text.
Using this Guess Who Point of View Activity, students identify their partner's "secret narrator" as the partner reads a text card.
Who, where, and what happened?
First graders learn that every story has the same important parts. The characters are who the story is about, the setting is where and when it happens, and the big events tell what happens in the beginning, middle and end. Kids learn to describe characters using details, like The bear is grumpy because he is hungry, and to retell a story in order. They also start noticing the problem in a story and how it is solved. When kids know these parts, they understand and remember what they read much better.
Story elements click when kids can see and say them. These moves make the parts of a story easy to spot.
Keep a big story map chart with boxes for characters, setting, beginning, middle and end. After a read-aloud, kids help fill it in with drawings and words. Doing it with every book builds the habit before they try it on their own.
Why it works: pairing a picture with each word gives kids two ways to remember it, a well-tested principle of how people learn (Mayer, 2009).
Try it withCharacters, Settings, and Big Events WorksheetGraphic OrganizersOpen it →Teach a five-finger retell: thumb for characters, pointer for setting, then beginning, middle and end on the next fingers. Kids practice with a partner after reading. It is a tool they carry everywhere, literally.
Why it works: kids understand an idea best when they touch it, then draw it, then write it, the order the U.S. Department of Education recommends for elementary math.
Try it withBeginning Middle End Plot ActivityActivitiesOpen it →Stop during a story and say what you notice about a character: "She is sharing her toys. I think she is kind." Then ask kids to do the same. Hearing your thinking helps them describe characters with real details.
Why it works: handing over the work step by step, from teacher to student, is one of the most widely used teaching frameworks (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).
Try it withDescribe Characters and Setting ActivityActivitiesOpen it →Stories are full of fun. These activities let kids play with them.
WorksheetsPut picture cards for planting a seed or building a snowman in order, then retell with first, next and last.
Open Plant a Seed Sequence Worksheet →
ActivitiesMatch feeling words to characters at different parts of a story.
Open Feeling Words Activity →
ActivitiesCompare characters or settings from two stories and find what they share.
Open How are They the Same Compare and Contrast Story Elements Activity →Teacher favorites right now: Story Elements Activity, Beginning Middle End Plot Activity and Feeling Words Activity.
They are the main parts of a story: characters, setting, and the major events in the beginning, middle and end. Many 1st grade classes also talk about the problem and solution.
The setting is where and when a story happens, like a forest at night or a classroom on the first day of school.
After reading together, ask "Who was in the story? Where did it happen? What happened first, next and last?" Drawing the parts can help too.
Knowing the parts of a story helps kids understand, remember and talk about what they read. It also helps them write their own stories later.
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