Elements of a Story

Into: Show the students the title of the book. Ask them if they ever wanted to be someone else. Do a picture walk with students (have student copies 1:2) Use Elmo to show pictures and point out various animals. Also discuss the meaning of a cirular story.


Through: Have students silent read then partner read the story. (Students should practice fluency) Once finished students should discuss with their table what they think the elements of a story are. Teacher will roam room interjecting where needed. Once the students have come up with : Title/Author/Illustrator, Characters, Setting Problem, Solution, (plot) Moral or lesson of the storyLet them talk about the expensive language (rich vocabulary used in the story) Students will then take 6 circles with triangles in the middle and write each of the five elements (one per circle) and draw a picture in the center of the triangle. Then students fold the flaps and connect the top three circles and bottom three then finallly the two half together. The teacher can then attach string to the balls and they can be hung through out the room. Adaptation you can make the circles into different colors and you can use giant circles to make a class ball.

Beyond: Student read another story and make their own mini story balls to share with the class.