Elements of a Story

Fourth Grade Reading

by Sarah Sumnicht August 9, 2017

In this interactive lesson, your students will learn to identify four elements of a fictional story: characters,
setting, problem, and solution.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to identify four elements of a fiction story.

Materials and preparation Key terms

Class set of the Elements of a Story: Circle element

Chart, plus two additional copies character
Class set of the story "The Frog Prince" setting
One copy of the Elements of a Story: Sort it problem
Out! activity (note: cut prior to lesson) solution
Video projector

Attachments

Elements of a Story: Circle Chart (PDF)

Story of the Frog Prince (PDF)
Elements of a Story: Sort It Out! (PDF)

Introduction (2 minutes)

Tell students that today we are going to identify the elements that make up a story.
Explain that an element is an essential part of something and every fiction story has the same key
elements: characters, setting, problem, and solution.

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (10 minutes)

Have students think about a familiar story, like "Hansel and Gretel."
Display the Elements of a Story: Circle Chart using a document camera.
In the section labeled characters, write “Who?” and explain that the characters are the people or
animals the story is about. Then ask students to name the main characters in the story (i.e., Hansel,
Gretel, and the witch) and record their answers on the chart.
Explain that setting is when and where the story takes place. Write “when & where” in the section
labeled setting, then have students describe the setting (i.e., a house made of candy, in the woods).
Repeat with problem (the conflict that the character(s) face) and solution (the resolution to the
problem).

Guided Practice (13 minutes)

Show a short, wordless video like Pixar’s, Boundin’.

Display a blank copy of the circle chart, and with students, complete each section of the chart. (Note:
Allow time for students to discuss each section with a partner as you complete the chart.)

Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/

Independent working time (10 minutes)

Hand out a copy of the story "The Frog Prince" and a blank Elements of a Story: Circle Chart to each
student.
Instruct students to read the story and fill out the circle chart independently.
Circulate and offer support as needed.

Differentiation

Support:

Provide a partially completed worksheet for students during independent practice (i.e., fill in the setting
and problem sections so that students are focused only on completing two sections independently).
Allow students to draw pictures in each section rather than writing.

Enrichment:

Have students apply the skills learned to find the elements in a story of their choice.

Assessment (10 minutes)

Cut out the cards in the Elements of a Story: Sort It Out! activity and hand out one card to each student.
Hang the elements of a story signs that are included with the activity and hang each sign in one corner of
the room.
Instruct students to read their card and go stand in the corner with the element that matches the card
they are holding.
Collect the cards, mix them up, and pass them out again to repeat the activity.

Review and closing (5 minutes)

Choose a few cards from the assessment activity and read them aloud.
After you read each card, have students call out which element of a story you’ve read.

Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/

Name: Date:

Elements of a Story: Circle Chart

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Copyright
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In a faraway land, a princess was enjoying the cool evening breeze outside her
family’s castle. She had with her a small golden ball, which she loved to play
with as a way to relax. On one particular toss, she threw it so high in the air
that she lost track of it, and the ball went rolling towards a spring. The ball
plopped into the water and quickly sank out of sight. The princess began
began sobbing in despair, and wished for her toy to return to her.
Then, a small frog popped out from the spring. “What’s wrong beautiful princess?”
asked the frog. The princess wiped away her tears and said, “My favorite golden
ball is gone, and nothing I do will bring it back.” The frog tried his best to comfort
the princess, and assured her that he could retrieve the ball if she would grant
him just one favor. “Anything! I will give you all my jewels and handfuls of
gold!” exclaimed the princess. The frog explained that he had no need for
riches, and only wanted a simple kiss from her in return.The thought of
kissing a slimy frog made the princess shudder, but in the end she agreed, as

into the spring and located the golden ball. In a blink of an eye the frog had
retrieved the ball and returned it to the princess. Keeping her word, the princess
kissed the frog. Suddenly, the ground began to rumble and a haze of smoke
filled the air. To the princess’s surprise, the frog was really a handsome prince
trapped by an evil witch's curse. Her kiss had freed the prince from a lifetime
of pain and misery. The prince and princess became great friends, and
eventually wed in a beautiful ceremony by the spring.

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 Elements of a Story
Sort It Out!
Teacher Directions:
1. Cut out the character, setting, problem, and solution cards below (there are 32 total).
2. Hand out one card to each student.
3. Hang the four Elements of a Story signs in four corners of the room and instruct students to stand
near the element that matches up with their card.
4. Collect the cards, mix them up, and repeat.

Alternative Activities:
Hand out one or more cards to each student and instruct them to write a story using the story part(s) on
their cards.
Have students work independently or with a group to sort the entire set of cards into four groups, based
on the four story elements.

the dusty surface of Mars deep under the sea

at the stroke of midnight on a sunny, summer day in

June

in the deep, dark forest a castle high in the

mountains

October 31st the year 2589

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 Elements of a Story
Sort It Out!

three little pigs Goldilocks

a brother and sister a sly, slithering snake

a kind hearted old woman an evil king

Peter a silly puppy

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 Elements of a Story
Sort It Out!

a dark, swirling tornado the princess’ diamond

blew the house away necklace fell into a
deep crevice

the big, bad wolf blew she ate the bears’ porridge
their house down and broke baby bear’s
chair

an alien spaceship had its the dog was lost and

lasers pointed straight at couldn’t find its way
Earth home

their kite got he broke his

stuck in a tree mom’s favorite
vase

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 Elements of a Story
Sort It Out!

they found what they he glued all the broken

were looking for pieces back together

she found her way home the sun came out and
dried up all the rain

the mouse helped the lion she ran as fast as she

escape from the hunter’s could and made it to
trap school in time

the boy woke up the lost fish was reunited

and realized it was with his worried father
all just a bad dream

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 Elements of a Story
Sort It Out!

characters

setting

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Elements of a Story
Sort It Out!

problem

solution

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