Understanding Story Elements: Characters, Setting, and Events
Understanding Story Elements: Characters, Setting, and Events Objective: By the end of this 45-minute lesson, the student will be able to identify characters, setting, and major events in a story and explain how these elements contribute to the story.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the main characters in a story.
- Describe the setting of the story.
- Retell major events in the story in order.
- Explain how characters and setting influence the story’s events.
Materials Needed
- A short storybook or printed story appropriate for 1st grade
- Paper and crayons or colored pencils
- Chart paper or whiteboard and markers
Key Vocabulary
- Character
- A person, animal, or figure in a story.
- Setting
- The place and time where the story happens.
- Event
- Something that happens in the story.
Detailed Activities
Read and Discuss the Story
- Read the selected story aloud to the student, showing the pictures.
- Pause to ask who the characters are and where the story takes place.
- Discuss the order of important events and what happens to the characters.
Story Elements Chart
- Together, create a chart with three columns: Characters, Setting, Events.
- Write or draw the main characters in the first column.
- Describe the setting in the second column.
- List the main events in the third column.
Draw Your Favorite Part
- Ask the student to draw their favorite character or event from the story.
- Have the student explain why they chose that part and what happened there.
- Praise their effort and encourage them to use story vocabulary.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This lesson focuses on helping your child understand key parts of a story which builds reading comprehension.
- Encourage your child to describe stories in their own words to help solidify understanding.
- You do not need to be an expert; simply listen and support their answers and creativity.
Assessment Questions
- Who are the main characters in the story?
- Where does the story take place?
- What happened first in the story?
- How did the characters change or feel during the story?
Extension Ideas
- Read a different story and create a new story elements chart together.
- Ask your child to tell you a story using characters and setting they invent.
- Use toys or puppets to act out the story’s events.
Frequently Asked Questions
That’s okay! You can help by reminding them or rereading parts of the story together.
Model using the words ‘character,’ ‘setting,’ and ‘event’ when talking about stories.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may confuse setting with characters.
- They might list events out of order or miss key details.
- Some children may struggle to explain how the story elements connect.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use very short stories with clear pictures.
- Provide choices when asking about characters and events.
- Allow drawing or acting out to express understanding.
For Advanced Students:
- Ask them to compare two stories’ characters or settings.
- Encourage them to explain why characters acted a certain way.
- Have them write or tell an alternate ending to the story.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 15 minutes reading and discussing the story.
- Use 15 minutes to create and review the story elements chart.
- Use last 15 minutes for drawing and sharing to reinforce learning.
Standards
- 1.RL.6 — Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text.
Printable Worksheet
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