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1st Grade Story Elements Worksheets

19 1st grade story elements worksheets. Teacher favorites: Characters, Settings, and Big Events Worksheet and Asking Questions About Pictures Worksheet. How teachers use these

1st Grade Story Elements Worksheets

19 1st grade story elements worksheets. Teacher favorites: Characters, Settings, and Big Events Worksheet and Asking Questions About Pictures Worksheet. How teachers use these

Worksheet
Worksheet1st GradeCharacters, Settings, and Big Events Worksheet

A characters, settings, and big events worksheet for 1st Grade: students read a short story, then draw and write the characters, setting, and big event in a simple organizer. Answer key included for quick, no-prep story elements practice.

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Worksheet1st GradeAsking Questions About Pictures Worksheet

This Asking Questions About Pictures Worksheet gives 1st Grade students an illustrated scene, four fill-in-the-bubble questions, and room to write a question of their own. Answer key included, so checking takes seconds.

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Worksheet1st GradePlant a Seed Sequence Worksheet

The Plant a Seed Sequence Worksheet helps 1st graders put five planting steps in order from first to last. Includes a complete answer key—perfect for quick, no-prep sequencing practice at home or school.

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Worksheet1st GradeMaking a Bed Sequence Worksheet

This Making a Bed Sequence Worksheet has 1st graders order five steps, number the boxes 1 to 5, and rewrite them in sequence. Answer key included — a fun, no-prep way to practice sequencing.

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Worksheet1st GradeCharacter and Settings Worksheet

A print-and-go Character and Settings Worksheet that helps 1st graders draw and describe the main character and the setting of any story they choose. Flexible enough for guided reading, independent reading, or a bedtime book at home.

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Worksheet1st GradeSequence Writing Graphic Organizer Worksheet

Plan a story from start to finish with this Sequence Writing Graphic Organizer Worksheet. First Grade writers name their story idea, then write what happens First, Next, Then, and Last on wide primary lines.

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Worksheet1st GradeImportant Events Worksheet

This important events worksheet has 1st graders read a short story about Little Bear and answer five questions about the plot. An answer key is included for fast, easy checking.

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Worksheet1st GradeImportant Elements of the Story Worksheet

Use this Important Elements of the Story Worksheet to help first grade readers name the characters, setting, and events in an original short story. Includes five questions and an answer key.

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Worksheet1st GradeCharacters The Giving Tree Worksheet

Using Characters, Settings, and Big Events Worksheet, students draw pictures and write a sentence for each to tell about the story elements in a book.

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Worksheet1st GradeImportant Parts of the Story Worksheet

This Important Parts of the Story Worksheet gives 1st Grade students four labelled boxes, so every child names the characters, the setting, the big event, and the ending of any book they read.

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Worksheet1st GradeTell About the Story Worksheet

Use this Tell About the Story Worksheet after any book your 1st Grade readers choose. They write the title, then fill four boxes for characters, setting, problem, and ending to retell what they read with confidence.

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Worksheet1st GradeCompare Contrast Book Covers Worksheet

Using Compare Contrast Book Covers Worksheet, students compare two books using information from the book cover to determine how they are alike and different.

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Worksheet1st GradeBuild a Snowman Sequence Worksheet

The Build a Snowman Sequence Worksheet asks 1st grade readers to number five winter steps in order, then write the first, middle, and last one. Answer key included, so ordering practice checks itself.

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Worksheet1st GradeTelling About the Story Worksheet

This Telling About the Story Worksheet gives 1st graders four boxes to retell any book they read - characters, setting, problem, and solution - turning every story into clear, confident writing practice.

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Worksheet1st GradeMiss Rumphius Point of View Worksheet

Using Miss Rumphius Point of View Worksheet, students read Miss Rumphius by Barbara Clooney to determine who says the lines from the story.

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Worksheet1st GradeSequencing Organizer Worksheet

This sequencing organizer worksheet helps 1st grade students plan a story in order, writing what happens first, second, third, fourth, and last to build retelling skills.

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Worksheet1st GradeArthur's TV Trouble Worksheet

Using Arthur's TV Trouble Worksheet,students retell the story by describing the story elements of any given story to build their reading comprehension.

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Worksheet1st GradeCharacters in Blueberries for Sal Worksheet

Using Characters in Blueberries for Sal Worksheet, students compare two characters from a story to determine how they are alike and different.

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Worksheet1st GradeSilly Stories Story Starters

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.

From our teachers' playbook

Who, where, and what happened?

What do 1st graders learn about story elements?

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.

How we teach story elements in 1st grade

Story elements click when kids can see and say them. These moves make the parts of a story easy to spot.

Story map after every read-aloud

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: children learn more from words and pictures together than from words alone (Mayer, 2009).

Characters, Settings, and Big Events WorksheetTry it withCharacters, Settings, and Big Events WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →

Retell with fingers

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: the U.S. Department of Education's guide for teaching elementary math recommends moving from hands-on objects to drawings to numbers.

Beginning Middle End Plot ActivityTry it withBeginning Middle End Plot ActivityActivitiesOpen it →

Think aloud about characters

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).

Describe Characters and Setting ActivityTry it withDescribe Characters and Setting ActivityActivitiesOpen it →

1st grade story elements questions

What are story elements in 1st grade?

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.

What is the setting of a story?

The setting is where and when a story happens, like a forest at night or a classroom on the first day of school.

How do I help my 1st grader retell a story?

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.

Why are story elements important?

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.