Identify story elements
key notes:
As you read, think about a story’s setting, characters, plot, problem and solution. They can help you understand a story better.
The setting is when and where the story takes place. The setting can contain more than one scene, or place where events happen. For example, in the story of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, the setting is a forest. But some of the story happens on a path in the forest and some happens inside the grandmother’s house in the same forest.
The characters are the people or animals that act in the story. The most important characters are called main characters. The story is about them and follows what they do.
The plot is the events that happen in a story, or what the characters do. The plot of a story is often told in the order that the events happen.
The problem is something that goes wrong for the characters, or something that needs to be fixed or changed. The problem, or conflict, in a story often causes the characters to take action.
The solution is how the problem in the story is solved. The solution, sometimes called the story’s resolution, is what wraps up the story.
Learn with an example
🐵Read the story.
Sheep don’t knit
Most of the other sheep on the farm liked to do nothing but chew and talk. But Irma was bored. She needed a
hobby!
Irma considered her options. Playing draughts? Draughts required two players. Irma asked Wilma if she wanted to learn. Wilma did not. Draughts was out. Collecting stamps? Irma asked Velma if she knew how to collect stamps. Velma said it was too difficult to buy stamps at the post office. Stamp collecting was out.
🐵 What is the story’s setting?
- a post office for sheep
- a clothing factory
- a sheep farm
- a classroom for farm animals
The story’s setting is a sheep farm. Look for details in the story that tell you when or where the events are taking place.
Most of the other sheep on the farm liked to do nothing but chew and talk.
🐵Read the story.
Fox and Hounds
Andy’s leg felt heavy in the cast. Today was his rugby team’s big game against the Rhinos. He was missing the cup final. He was stuck at home on the sofa.
He couldn’t believe he’d broken his leg. Why did this happen to him? Why hadn’t Randy broken his leg instead? His twin brother, Randy, wouldn’t mind having his leg in a cast. Randy loved chess as much as Andy loved sports. Randy was a junior chess champion, and Andy hardly ever saw him these days. Randy was always
off at some chess tournament.
🐵 What is the story’s setting?
- a rugby pitch
- Andy’s home
- a chess tournament
- Randy’s bedroom
The story’s setting is Andy’s home. Look for details in the story that tell you when or where the events are taking place.
He was stuck at home on the sofa.
🐵Read the story.
What Starts with C?
Jason, what are you bringing in for Spanish class tomorrow? asked Akash. Akash’s sister Dhara caught up with them as they left the school.
‘I have no idea,’ answered Jason. ‘It’s too hard to think of anything.’
Each week, they had to bring an object that started with a certain letter. They had to share some interesting facts about it. It all had to be in Spanish. Didn’t Mr Bermudez know they had only just started learning Spanish? It was impossible.
🐵 What is the story’s setting?
- Jason’s home
- a school
- a village in Mexico
- a street in Spain
The story’s setting is a school. Look for details in the story that tell you when or where the events are taking place.
Akash’s sister Dhara caught up with them as they left the school.
Starting at the front of the classroom, the students got up to share their objects.
let’s practice!
Read the story.
What Starts with C?
Jason, what are you bringing in for Spanish class tomorrow? asked Akash. Akash’s sister Dhara caught up with them as they left the school.
‘I have no idea,’ answered Jason. ‘It’s too hard to think of
anything.’
Each week, they had to bring an object that started with a
certain letter. They had to share some interesting facts about it. It all had to be in Spanish. Didn’t Mr Bermudez know they had only just started learning Spanish? It was impossible.
This week, their letter was c.
Jason couldn’t think of a single Spanish word starting with c. The only thing he could do in Spanish was sing. Jason started humming ‘A Mi Burro’. It was a song about a little donkey.
Dhara asked Jason why he looked mad. He rolled his eyes. ‘I’m not mad. I just can’t think of a word that starts with c.’
‘Silly,’ she said. ‘I know something that starts with c.’
But before Jason could say anything, she yelled, ‘Chocolate!’
Jason stared. ‘Yeah!’ he said. ‘I even know the Spanish for that. Read the story.Chocolate. Same spelling, different pronunciation!’
The next morning, Jason brought a big chocolate bar to school. But he’d skipped breakfast, so he was hungry. He peeled off the wrapper and took a quick bite to get him through maths. He could bring half a chocolate bar to Spanish, right? It was still chocolate. One more bite would be fine. But before he knew it, Jason had eaten the whole bar. He had none left to show the class .
Before long, it was time for Spanish. Jason had a funny feeling in his stomach that had nothing to do with all of the chocolate.
Starting at the front of the classroom, the students got up to share their objects. Akash showed off his calcetines (socks). Hadi held up a corbata (necktie). Jason’s turn was coming next. He couldn’t sit still. He started humming ‘A Mi Burro’. Suddenly he grinned.
Mr Bermudez said, ‘Jason, it’s your turn. What do you have?’
Jason stood up. He was ready. ‘Canción,’ he said. That was
Spanish for ‘song’. And he sang ‘A Mi Burro’, with gusto, for the class then he took a bow .