+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Understanding Protagonists and Antagonists

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
How can you tell if a character is a villain? What about a hero? Work on literary analysis with an engaging language arts worksheet. After completing an activity about the four types of conflict, learners fill out a character map about a...
+
Organizer
1
1
Teacher's Corner

Dr. Seuss Story Map

For Students 3rd - 6th Standards
Guide young readers through their first book report with a story map designed for a Dr. Seuss book. After your class finishes their story of choice, they list the title, characters, conflict, and other elements of literature on the book...
+
Organizer
2
2
Pinecrest Preparatory Middle and High School

Short Story Planning Guide

For Students 6th - 9th Standards
A short story is only as strong as its characters, development, and conflicts. Encourage the young authors in your class to plan their stories based on the elements of narrative writing, all provided in brainstorming graphic organizers.
+
Unit Plan
2
2
Digital Education Resource Archive

Narrative Writing Unit

For Students 4th - 7th Standards
Each one of the learners in your class has a story to tell, so help them learn the most efficient and organized way to tell their tale. A thorough unit on narrative writing addresses the writing process, grammar, story structure,...
+
Unit Plan
British Council

Learning English through Short Stories

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Use short stories to teach English? Yes! Designed as a professional development opportunity for English language teachers, the ideas in this booklet can easily be adapted to advanced ESL/ELL classes.
+
Organizer
1
1
Writing Educators Symposium

Asking the Right Questions

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
It can be difficult to find the theme of a book or story if you don't know the questions to ask. Teach your kids to discern the universal theme in works of literature with a set of activities that promote critical thinking and active...
+
Lesson Plan
Maine Content Literacy Project

Introduction to The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is a great story to share with your class, and this lesson focuses on just that story! The eighth in a fourteen-lesson series on short stories, the plan has learners study some vocabulary, read the story,...
+
Lesson Plan
Maine Content Literacy Project

Introduction to Ernest Hemingway

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What is a white elephant, and what does it have to do with Ernest Hemingway? Study "Hills Like White Elephants" in-depth by following the procedures outlined in this lesson, the fifth in a series of fourteen. Learners start the day with...
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
Maine Content Literacy Project

The Process of Reading vocabulary, literary elements

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Cover Freytag's Triangle and examine Anton Chekhov's "The Bet" in this third lesson plan in a series of fourteen based around short stories. Learners take a quiz and discuss Freytag's triangle. They apply the triangle to "The Bet" and...
+
Lesson Plan
Maine Content Literacy Project

Dramatic Structure of the Short Story

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The second lesson in a series of fourteen, this plan takes the short story basics a step further. Learners complete a quiz about the story from the previous day, discuss the text, learn about Anton Chekhov, and work in groups to begin...
+
Lesson Plan
Maine Content Literacy Project

Introduction to the Short Story

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How should pupils read short stories? Set them up for this unit with an introductory instructional activity that goes over the main characteristics of a short story and starts learners off reading their first short story of the unit. In...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Rikki-tikki-tavi"

For Teachers 7th - 8th
“Rikki-tikki-tavi” provides an opportunity to model for readers how to use background information to enrich understanding of a story. Class members observe animal behavior, listen to biographical background on Rudyard Kipling, study...
+
Worksheet
1
1
Curated OER

Illustrating the Elements of a Story

For Students 6th - 8th
Explore the elements of a story with this two-page graphic organizer. Readers write and draw descriptions of each element, including setting, plot, conflict, rising action, climax, dialogue, and narration.
+
Worksheet
E Reading Worksheets

Climax, Structure, and Elements of a Story

For Students 5th - 7th
Appropriate for any short story, this worksheet asks readers to identify key elements and then analyze the structure of a short story.
+
Lesson Plan
Novelinks

The Hobbit: Writing Assignment

For Teachers 6th - 12th
As a culminating assignment for a unit study of heroes that uses The Hobbit as the core text, class members engage in a multi-genre writing project.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rudyard Kipling's "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi": Mixing Fact and Fiction

For Students 3rd - 9th Standards
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," from The Jungle Book, offers young readers a chance to examine how Rudyard Kipling uses setting and personification to bring to life the brave mongoose who battles cobras to protect his family. Class members explore...
+
Interactive
Curated OER

Recognizing Elements of a Short Story

For Students 4th - 5th
In this short story elements worksheet, students recognize the elements of short story by reading the sentences and selecting the correct story element. Students complete 10 online questions.
+
Interactive
Curated OER

Recognizing Elements of a Short Story

For Students 6th - 8th
In this elements of a short story worksheet, students are given definitions and must choose the element being defined.  Students are also given a selection to read and answer questions about.
+
Lesson Plan
Michigan State University

Michigan State University: Intervention for Reading: Group Story Mapping

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
This intervention, which is based on Schema Theory, emphasizes linking previous knowledge structures (schemata) with reading materials. A pre-reading technique (see "My Story Map") provides a framework that directs students' attention to...
+
Lesson Plan
Lumen Learning

Lumen: Reading and Interpreting Literary Texts: How to Analyze a Short Story

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This lesson focuses on analyzing a short story including all of the elements of a short story such as setting, plot and structure, and characterization.
+
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Translating Short Stories Into Original Short Films

For Teachers 9th - 10th
After reviewing the elements of the short story, students develop a script and storyboard from a published or original story. Students then film and edit a video of the story to present during a class film festival.
+
Handout
Ted Nellen

Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Setting

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is a glossary entry for the term "Setting," the time and place a story takes place.
+
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.
+
PPT
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Rising Action

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This slideshow lesson explains rising action in fiction.