Teacher​: Ms.

Bard Date: 4-23-18 (for 4-27-18)

Transdisciplinary theme​: How We Grade level: 1
Organize Ourselves Subject Area: English
Lesson Title: Story Elements

Duration​: 40 Materials Needed: Standards (From Scope and Sequence

minutes (one Ms. Bard’s story cut up Documents) Story writing and story
class period) into elements, element elements
[may take titles printed, easel and
more than writing materials
40 minutes--
we have 2
40 minute
periods for
English]

STEP 1

ANTICIPATORY SET : GOALS

Engage students.
Connect with prior knowledge.
Explain what students will learn.
Explain what students will do.
Connect to future learning.

Factual Understanding Conceptual Understanding

Facts that students will ​know: Every story has essential elements which
Story elements: Setting, Main make stories complete and interesting.
Characters, Problem, Solution, Main
Idea

Connections to previous learning: ​collect what students already know (previous

lessons or experiences if the unit is brand new): Stories have titles, authors, illustrators,
characters
Provocation activity​: what would be a good provocation for students to get hooked and
ask questions? Show all 3 versions of The Three Little Pigs the class has read -- what do
they all have in common mind map (5 min.)

STEP 2

Introduction of new material

Provide instruction of content
Model new skills
Check for understanding

STEP 3
GUIDED PRACTICE
Facilitate student work.

STEP 4

Independent practice
Assign independent classwork

Lesson (whole group opportunity-individual work)

An inquiry based lesson is the goal. Some strategies include

Team work
Exploring the materials before the activities start
Allow time for student questions
Use thinking maps
Limit use of worksheets and text books- allow students interaction/creating a product
Use visuals and tools for learning- hands on activities
Include technology

The parts of the original story (pages) will be typed by teacher and displayed around the
room. The puzzle pieces with the titles: ​Setting, Main Characters, Problem, Solution, Main
Idea will be placed around the room as well. As a group, we will read aloud the different
sections of the book. We will also read and explain the different story elements. Each
student will be given a page (section) from the book and will discuss what puzzle piece the
page demonstrates. Students will put their pages with the puzzle pieces and explain to the
class why they put it there and how it demonstrates that element. Once all students have
presented we discuss how/if the parts of the story could be under more than one element.
(15 min.)

As a class, come up with 5 characters we could write a story about (model the process).
(3 min.) Students will go into 3 teams and will each get one of the remaining story
elements. They will come up with at least 3 ideas in each category that can fit into a story
(problem and solution together). (7 min.)

STEP 5

CLOSURE
Have students briefly summarize their learning.

Evaluation Reflection (revisit the conceptual

How do you assess the understanding of
lesson objectives (standards)
Class sits in a circle. The name of the
game is finish my story -- go around in
the circle and each person contributes
one sentence to our made up short
story. The goal is for the story to have all
elements. (7 min.)
understanding​)
Can be peer reflection or self reflection or as a
class
Repeat understanding goal.
What are the story elements? Did we include
all of them in our story? What are our
examples? If not, how can we add them to our
 story? (3 min.)

Differentiation Opportunities

How do you support learners who are ahead or behind

Extension -- ask the students how the elements were different in the other versions of ​The
Three Little Pigs. ​Students who are understanding well will be given the problem/solution
team.

Support: Hint cards: The end of the story usually has the solution. The title and pictures
will give clues about the main idea and the characters. The first page usually introduces
the character and the setting. Also, students will have support of their team members and
can ask the teacher for further guidance.

Hint Cards:
The Three Little Pigs:  
 
 
1. Once upon a time there were three little pigs. One bright 
summer morning, they packed their bags and set off 
together. As it grew closer to fall, the little pigs realized they 
needed a house that would be warm and safe, just like the 
one they had left.  
 
 
2. “I have an idea!” said one of the pigs. “We can each build 
our own house!” So the pigs set out to make three different 
houses. The first pig wanted to make a ​fast ​house so he took 
straw from a nearby field and got to work on his house. The 
second pig wanted to use something stronger than straw, so 
he gathered sticks and built his house from wood. The third 
pig wanted his house to be ​even stronger​, so he gathered 
bricks and built his house.  
 
 
3. The next day the first little pig heard a knock on his door. 
“Little pig, Little pig, Let me come in!” Said a wolf. “Not by the 
hair of my chinny chin chin.” Replied the little pig. “Then I’ll 
HUFF and I’ll PUFF and I’ll BLOW YOUR HOUSE DOWN!” 
Shouted the wolf.  
 
 
4. As the wolf blew down the little pig’s house, the little pig ran 
as fast as he could to his brother’s house. Soon enough, the 
wolf showed up at the second little pig’s house. “Little Pigs, 
Little Pigs, let me come in!” Said the wolf. “Not by the hair of 
our chinny chin chins.” Replied the little pigs. 
 
 
 5. “Then I’ll HUFF and I’ll PUFF and I’ll BLOW YOUR HOUSE 
DOWN!” Shouted the wolf. As the wolf blew down the second 
little pig’s house, the little pigs ran as fast as they could to the 
third little pig’s house.   
 
 
6. When the wolf arrived at the third little pig’s house he again 
shouted, “Little Pigs, Little Pigs, let me come in!” “Not by the 
hair of our chinny chin chins.” Replied the little pigs. “Then I’ll 
HUFF and I’ll PUFF and I’ll BLOW YOUR HOUSE DOWN!” 
Shouted the wolf, feeling extra confident as he had already 
blown down two other houses.  
 
 
7. Then the wolf HUFFED and he PUFFED and he BLEW as 
hard as he could but….the brick house was too steady. When 
he realized he could not get into the house, the wolf left and 
he was never seen again.