Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Interactives: Elements of a Story: Characters
The interactive story lesson engages students in the study of "characters" and terms associated with them. Using the story of Cinderella as an anchor story, students will identify the following: hero, villain, protagonist, antagonist,...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Realism:"an Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" Ambrose Bierce
This lesson focuses on the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce. It discusses the use of literary techniques such as stream of consciousness, forshadowing, flashback and flash-forward, and offers a PDF of...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Taking the Mystery Out of Writing a Mystery
This mystery-writing instructional activity focuses on the structure of a short story and the elements of a mystery in particular. Students complete the entire writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing....
Caro Clarke
Historical Fiction: Who Rules?
This is the fifteenth article in a series designed to help the new novel author. This article focuses on the genre of historical fiction and the role of the author. Is the author a researcher or a story-teller?
Quizlet
Quizlet: Story Elements (1St Grade) Match
This interactive game of "Match" assesses students' knowledge of story element definitions. Students will match the correct definition of a story element to its corresponding definition. Picture cues are provided on this review resource.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Fable Chart [Pdf]
This is a PDF Fable Chart designed for students to complete as they read a fable; it includes the title and author, the animal character, human characteristics, the individual elements of a short story, and the moral or lesson.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Interpreting Characters, Setting, Plot, & Theme: Triangle...
Middle schoolers will view video documenting the real-life story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911. Students will complete a story elements graphic organizer. This organizer will help them distinguish various story elements...
Quia
Quia: Narrative Structure Elements
This reading resource provides vocabulary words with definitions. All words are related to the elements of narratives. A link to associated review activities is included.
Quia
Quia: Rags to Riches: Literary Elements: Setting, Plot, and Characters
In this game, students answer questions about the story elements of setting, plot, and characters
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Literary Visions
A series of 24 instructional videos, each about 30 minutes in length, designed to teach literary analysis. Topics include Responding to Literature, The Elements of Short Fiction, Tone and Style in Short fiction, The Elements of Poetry,...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Math + Arts: Jack & the Zero Clan
In this lesson, students will create and solve a word problem related to adding and subtracting within 1,000, develop a script for a short scene using dialect, and perform it using the elements of performance, specifically acting,...
Other
O.henry: The Last Leaf Lesson and Activities
The ELLSA site offers this very complete set of lessons about The Last Leaf, focusing on setting, but including vocabulary and other elements.
University of Victoria (Canada)
The U Vic Writer's Guide: Literary Term: Fable
The University of Victoria's English department gives a comprehensive definition of fables. Example included.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Setting
This is a glossary entry for the term "Setting," the time and place a story takes place.
Quia
Quia: Short Story Elements: Definitions
Students can choose from three different activities while practicing story elements. Flashcards give students a chance to learn the elements and their definitions. A matching game gives students an opportunity to test their new learning,...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Analyzing a Story's Theme [Pdf]
A short set of questions designed to help students consider and analyze the element of theme within a piece of literature. RL.9-10.2 and RL. 11-12.2 Analyzing Theme.
Harold D. Underdown
The Use of Visual Elements to Tell a Better Story
Short article gives excellent tips concerning how to use visual elements to enhance a written story. Article was written specifically for children's literature, but can also apply to other genres as well.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Sequence
Listen to an explanation about the series of events in Cinderella. Then look at some pictures where the story's events are all mixed up and put them in the correct order.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Fable [Pdf]
This is a one-page PDF of a poster or flyer listing the characteristics of a fable. It could be printed and hung in the classroom.
Other
Fiction Writing Tips: Creating a Vivid Setting
Some excellent guidelines to consider when evaluating your setting in a short story or novel. Discusses the importance of setting, some examples, as well as practical advice in setting your story. W.11-12.3d Sensory/precise lang narratives
Quia
Quia: Compare/contrast Character, Plot, and Setting Test
This interactive activity assesses students' understanding of the story elements. Students will read passages that include a short story and a brief drama; then students will answer assorted questions associated to each piece.
Caro Clarke
Caro Clarke: Pacing Anxiety, or How to Stop Padding and Plot!
This is the seventh installment of a series giving advice to the author who is new to writing novels. This article focuses on how to take your characters and use them and their conflicts to develop the plot of your story. W.9-10.3b...
Other
Russian Fairy Tales
At this site choose between long version and a short version of these fairy tales translated from the Russian. Each one is illustrated. Be aware that there are advertisements on the page.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Voice Building Poetry Lesson: Comparison & Contrast Poems
In this lesson plan, students examine multiple mentor texts to help drive them toward the final persuasive writing assignment: comparison and contrast poems written from a parent and a child's perspective. A short story, two poems, and a...