Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Let's Get to Know Big Al
During this lesson the learners will read and discuss the story Big Al, by Andrew Clements. Students will identify the story elements of Big Al and complete a story element map. Learners will also do a character analysis of Big Al.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Interpreting Characters, Setting, Plot, & Theme: Triangle...
Students 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 and put...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Story Elements
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart defines the elements of a story: character, setting, theme, and conflict.
TES Global
Blendspace: What Makes Stories Scary?
A learning module that includes fourteen links to websites, videos, and activities on writing scary stories. Lessons focus on vocabulary, plot and character development, elements of gothic stories, tone and mood, suspense, and more.
Yale University
Yale University: Elements of the Short Story
This unit from the Yale University on elements of the short story is designed to develop student comprehension skills, particularly making inferences and generalizing. It also involves students in reading a number of short stories to...
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,...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Using a Fairy Tale to Teach the Elements of a Story
Young scholars will hear and read different versions of a familiar fairy tale and identify what elements a story must have (character, plot, setting) for the story to be interesting and make sense. Using a Venn diagram, students will...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Using Fairy Tales to Teach the Short Stories
Familiar fairy tales are used as guides to help students analyze the elements of the short story: plot, theme, setting, point of view, and character.
Other
Wilsonplays: Elements of Fiction
A chart that lists and defines the elements of a story including: character, setting, events, problem, and solution.
Caro Clarke
Caro Clarke: What Is Conflict?
This is the sixth in a series of articles designed to help the new writer with their novel. This article focuses on conflict and how it effects the characters and the plot of the story. W.11-12.3a Narratives
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Planning Story Characters Using Interactive Trading Cards
Students use trading cards to examine fictional characters in a story.
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Differentiated Reading Instruction Worksheets, Activities
A collection of differentiated reading activities are provided in this collection. Worksheets for the following reading topics are included: climax, story structure, elements of a story; fact and opinion; summarizing, narrative sequence;...
Other
Elements of Fiction
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.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Narrative Pyramid
A printable narrative pyramid where students can record information about a story including the character, setting, problem, main events, and solution. Directions on how to use this type of graphic organize as well as lists of teaching...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Story Fairytale
[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.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Characters
Learn about the different types of characters in Cinderella, and determine which traits belong to the hero and villain. Click on the "Character" button.
Other
Seekers Blog Spot: How Setting Affects Characters
Information and examples of different ways the setting of a text can affect the characters and character development. (Published: Sept. 29, 2016)
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?
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: What Got Stolen?
After reading Grandpa's Teeth by Rod Clement, the writer will plan a scene from a story where a character confronts another character about something that has been stolen. Descriptive details need to take precedence in this scene, as...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Why Did Mamma Change Her Mind? [Pdf]
"Why Did Mamma Change Her Mind?" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a party. Mom said her son and daughter could each have 5 friends (5 boys and 5 girls). The girl wanted all girls so the party was cancelled. It is followed...
Caro Clarke
Writing Advice: Where to Start?
This writing tutorial focuses on helping the aspiring author find a good place to start on his or her fiction.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Train [Pdf]
"The Train" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a child's first train trip to Grandma's for the summer. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it includes:...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Traveling With Lewis and Clark [Pdf]
"Traveling with Lewis and Clark" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about traveling with Lewis and Clark on their expedition and the hardships of winter and food shortages they endured. It is followed by constructed-response...
Read Works
Read Works: I Need Quiet!
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a boy named Kahlil who figured out a way to eliminate noisy distractions so he could read. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.