Create a graphic organizer that has boxes for students to fill in the setting (where and when), characters (major and minor), plot (beginning, middle and end) and theme or moral lesson of the story. As students read, they should fill in the boxes with the appropriate information from the story. Allow students who are more advanced to create their own graphic organizer to record the story information.
Provide students with at least two versions of a fairy tale. Have students create a chart that lists all of the story elements you want them to look for such as setting, characters, point of view and plot. As they read, students will fill in the information about the story in the appropriate column of the chart. After reading both stories, students can compare which elements stayed the same and which elements were different in the stories.
On a sheet of paper, draw a large triangle to create a story pyramid. Draw eight horizontal lines across the triangle. On the first line have students write the name of the story. The second line should contain two words to describe the main character. Students should write three words describing the setting and four words about the story problem on the third and fourth lines. On the fifth line, have students write five words describing the main event in the story and six words describing the second event and seven describing the third event on the sixth and seventh lines. The eighth line should contain eight words describing the solution to the problem.
As students read a short story or picture book, challenge them to answer the questions who?, what?, when?, where?, why? and how? After students answer the questions, explain to them that the who and the what relate to the characters and point of view, the when and where relate to the setting and the why and how relate to the plot and the theme. Having students use these questions will help them locate story elements.
Help students focus only on the most important story elements by asking them to write a short story and share it with the class in 20 words or less. This is a "GIST" (or summary) statement. Students should include the name of the main characters, the setting and the plot of the story in their 20-word summary. Allow students to go over by one or two words, but help them find ways to cut down their summary.