Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Interactives: Elements of a Story

For Students K - 1st Standards
Explore the elements of a story using the well-known Cinderella story as source material. Learn about setting, character, sequence, exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution.
Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Elements of a Story Interactive

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Explore different ingredients, or elements, that go into stories and make them so much fun. Read the story, "Cinderella," and look at all the different pieces of the tale to see how they all fit together.
Handout
Other

Lifestream Center: Lessons: Literary Concepts: Elements of a Story

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
This site offers a basic understanding of the elements of a story. It clearly defines each literary term.
Handout
Other

Katie Kazoo: The Five Essential Elements of a Story [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 6th Standards
Learn the five essential elements of a story.
Whiteboard
SMART Technologies

Smart: Identifying the Setting of a Story

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
In this lesson, students learn to identify the setting of a story by both where and when. A Setting quiz follows.
Unit Plan
University of South Florida

Fcat Express: Plot & Conflict Resolution

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Strategies to help students understand the elements of a story provided by a standardized test preparation site intended for fourth grade. Includes strategies such as DLTA/DRTA, Plot Diagrams, Story Clock, Story Mapping, Summary...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Contemporary Literature: The Modern Short Story

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson is an introduction to the modern short story including defining the short story, how the modern short story differs from the classic short story, the elements of a short story, and what is to be expected in this unit.
Graphic
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Elements of Literature: Analyzing Setting [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Use this graphic organizer for analyzing setting and its effect on the meaning of any story.
Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Analyze the Central Characters in Literary Text/fiction

For Students 7th - 9th Standards
In this lesson, students will learn some ways that writers reveal the complexity of their characters. By closely analyzing one author's characters, they will come to see how their words, actions, and interactions with one another can...
Unit Plan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Elements of Literature: The Short Story [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A short group of exercises for students concerning the elements of a short story. Allows students to examine the major story elements, then apply those elements to a given piece of literature.
Unit Plan
Other

Elements of Fiction

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Simple discussion of the elements of fiction with a specific section devoted to Freytag's Pyramid (aka "basic plot structure"). A good place to start for gathering information on the structure of narrative.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Ninth Literature and Composition: Short Stories

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This lesson provides and introduction to a short story unit. It focuses the lessons and morals taught by short stories and the use of literary elements in fiction. I provides a list of essential questions.
Article
Other

News Lab: Elements of Great Storytelling

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is a great site for broadcast journalists; it focuses on the elements that make a story great. You can find tips on writing from some of the top people in the industry.
Lesson Plan
Read Works

Read Works: Fourth Grade: Three Lesson Unit: Plot

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] A three-lesson unit focused on plot. Students identify and describe the elements of plot in the books Stone Soup by Jon J. Muth and Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson. Then they...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Literature: What Makes a Good Short Story?

For Students 9th - 10th
First this page asks students to read a short story called "A Jury of Her Peers." Then, this page asks students to "Read about the elements of a good short story and to take part in activities related to 'A Jury of Her Peers.'"
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Math + Arts: Jack & the Zero Clan

For Teachers K - 1st Standards
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,...
Graphic
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Analyzing a Story's Theme [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
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.
Graphic
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Elements of Literature: Plot Outline [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A graphic organizer for students, laying out the basic outline of a story's plot and allowing students to fill in the necessary details.
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Writer's Model: Writing a Short Story

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This seven-page example is of a short story entitled "T-formity." Clicking on the "Writer's Guide" link in the upper right-hand corner of the page enables the user to get tips, directions, and explanations on the essay.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Story Elements

For Teachers 6th - 9th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart defines the elements of a story: character, setting, theme, and conflict.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Story Fairytale

For Teachers 1st - 6th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students learn the elements of a story through fairytales. These include character, setting, plot, and secret ingredient. Includes an Activote session.
Lesson Plan
Read Works

Read Works: Grade 2: Three Lesson Unit: Plot

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] A series of three lesson plans designed to teach learners to identify story elements, retell a story using story elements, and see how characters affect the plot. Lessons are based on the books Dog...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: A Secret Note

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] This fiction piece shares the story of a camper who receives a mysterious note. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
Graphic
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Elements of Literature: Analyzing a Myth [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A brief worksheet/organizer in which students can analyze the content of a given mythological story. Includes five questions and space for students answers and analysis.