Welcome to Story Elements Information
Elements of stories have traditionally been associated with fiction. However, they can be used by readers and viewers for any story in any media and any genre. The more experience a person has with the use of a variety of story elements, the greater their understanding and enjoyment of literature.
As students experience stories they begin to conceptualize categories related to different parts of the story. These different story parts can be categorized as: characters, settings, plots, themes, points of view, styles, and tones. We are all aware of these and have different abilities to recognize and use them when we interact with a story. The more experiences and the greater our ability the better we are at predicting, understandings, remembering, critically analyzing, and evaluating stories. Improving our transactions for different stories enabled by our use of story elements will provide greater appreciation of quality literature to begin and sustain a life long enjoyment of literature.
Story Element Resources
- Story elements defined, describes, with with examples from quality children's stories
- Sample discussion questions for different story elements
- Chart of children' development of story element ideas from Kindergarten to sixth grade
- Story elements are used within different genre in different ways that often are identified as defining characteristics of the genre. This is important to know and use to analyze and critically evaluate stories and literature. Ideas for this kind of analysis is linked to the Genre Page by genre.
Teacher Tool Box with student activities for Story Elements
- Introductory activity to review story elements and wonder about point of view in the picture book - The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear
- Generic blank planning table for story elements
- Sample planning table for Tops & Bottoms picture book
- Plan for: Room on the Broom - integrated story elements with genre and quality literature outcomes
- Plan for mythology and legend focused study on story elements with genre, quality lterature, and possible integration of media, writing, and critical thinking.
Characterization
- Character Comparison
- Plot and one character frame 1
- Plot and one character frame 2
- Character chart
- Character portraits
- Character venn diagram - 2 rings
- Character venn diagram - 3 rings
- Picture frames page
- Book character report card
- Character comparison frame
Setting
Plot
- Plot (1)
- Plot and one character (1)
- Plot and one character (2)
- Plot frame 1
- Plot frame 2
- Chain of Events page
- Story map primary grades
- Story map upper grades
- Map for Hobbit
- Map for Bendy's Quest
Theme
Point of View
Style
- Colors and their signifiance for tone in literature and art
- Style
- Animal similes and metaphor
- Identifying similes and metaphors
- Comparisons in similes and metaphors
- Random creation of similes and metaphors
- Poem with similes and metaphors
- Personification
- Idioms
Tone
Style Combinations
Writing
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