Keys to Literacy
Story Map
Here's a graphic organizer that promotes comprehension by asking class members to record the elements of a story. Using the provided template, readers identify the setting, the major characters, the problems they face, and the...
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
Reading Literature - An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” Ambrose Bierce’s short story, is used to model how structural moves, the decisions an author makes about setting, point of view, time order, etc., can be examined to reveal an author’s purpose. Groups...
National Geographic
Mapping the Shape of Everest
With Mount Everest as the motivator, your earth science class learns about topographic maps. Begin by showing a film clip from The Wildest Dream: Conquest of Everest, featuring fearsome virtual imagery of a path up world's tallest...
Curated OER
Story Map
In this graphic organizer worksheet, students read a story and then answer questions. They list the main characters, describe the setting, main events, problem and the solution in the story. This graphic organizer is one page in length.
Curated OER
Multimedia Book Reports
Young scholars read a chapter book of 100-200 pages in length. They create a story map and multimedia book report. Pupils review the elements of a story map such as: characters, setting, problem, important events, solution, etc.)...
Curated OER
Story Pyramids
Young writers generate descriptive words. They use pictures of various landscapes (from books, magazines, or the Internet) and complete a story pyramid. The pyramid (included here) asks to describe the main character, the setting, and...
Curated OER
Story Map
In this story map worksheet, 7th graders identify and record the elements a story, including setting, problem, plan, and resolution.
Curated OER
Story Mapping: Guide for Cross-Disciplinary Application
In this story mapping instructional activity, students read how story mapping can apply to 3 different areas of study: history, English and science lab. The components of story mapping that are included here are setting, characters,...
National Endowment for the Humanities
On This Day With Lewis and Clark
Walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark as they discover the wonders, beauty, and dangers of the American frontier. After gaining background knowledge about Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase, young explorers use primary...
Curated OER
Setting the Story: Techniques for Creating a Realistic Setting
“It was a dark and stormy night.” Thus begins the 1830's novel Paul Clifford and, of course, all of Snoopy’s novels! Encourage young writers to craft settings for their stories that go beyond Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s often-mocked phrase...
Curated OER
Text Features of Fiction, Poetry, Drama: Story Matrix
How do novels differ from plays? Explore with your class the text features of fiction and drama by reading The Hidden One: Native American Legend and then performing a reader’s theater script based on the story. Class members create a...
Curated OER
Story Map
In this story map worksheet, students choose a specific time in history to fill in a story map on, including the setting, characters, theme, problem, events and resolution.
Curated OER
Character Map
A character map worksheeth as this would be handy for your class to support characterization study for any text. It is completely adaptable: your learners choose a character, write three traits in ovals and identify two instances that...
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Create a Map
Do your young scholars have a connection to their natural environment? Create neighborhood maps together with your little learners. The lesson starts as the class talks about where they live and what their homes look like. They review...
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension
After listening to a story learners engage in a kinesthetic activity to answer comprehension and critical thinking questions. Finally, the students identify three main facts about the story. Extensions include a fact and opinion...
Curated OER
Circular Story Map
In this story elements map worksheet, learners use the blank graphic organizer to plan a story they will write. Students will write a story that takes place in the country they choose to study. Learners think of the setting, characters,...
Curated OER
Story Elements: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
In this story elements worksheet, students respond after reading Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes. Students identify the setting, main characters, problem and solution. Students write their notes in purse shapes.
Curated OER
Comprehending the Story
Learners explore story-grammar. They discuss story-grammar and read That Mean Man. A story map is created and a Venn Diagram is used to compare and contrast concepts within the story. They retell the story and use a story pyramid to...
Curated OER
It's in the Elements - Lesson Four
Students compare and contrast story elements in two versions of Cinderella. In this literature elements lesson, students are read two different versions of Cinderella, they identify the characters, plot, and setting, then they...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Surprise!: Extra Support Lessons (Theme 2)
Surprise! is the theme of a unit covering such topics as consonants, blending, short vowels sounds, high frequency words, and number words. The unit's lessons also include teachable moments covering story structure, illustrations,...
Curated OER
Do You Know What You Just Read?
Students answer reading comprehension questions using the "story grammar" technique. They listen to a story and then answer questions using the technique: main character, setting, main events, and resolution. Students complete an...
Curated OER
Reading to Learn
Students complete story maps in this lesson. Students read "The Magic School Bus", and get into groups to choose their story element. Each group shares their information with the class. They then complete a story map for a book read...
Curated OER
Map Making
Young scholars examine a variety of strategies to identify the structure of a story. They listen to the book Where the Wild Things Are and, as a class, complete a story element chart. Students independently read a passage from...
Curated OER
Arthur's Tooth
Learners practice their reading comprehension by reading a story in their class. In this story map lesson plan, students read the Marc Brown book Arthur's Tooth and discuss the story, characters and setting. Learners create a story map...