Showcase Lesson: Third Grade Language Arts

Instructor: Alyssa Kidwell, Tyahna Blake, Tessa Lue

Title:
Grade Level:

Five Elements of a Short Story

3
2 days day one: 90 minutes, day two: 2 hours

Length of Lesson:

Objectives:

Standards
Addressed:

Required Materials:

Anticipatory Set:

Procedure:

Once the student has chosen a story from the list provided, he/she
will demonstrate the ability to identify elements of a short story
and summarize the plot in their own words by creating a
presentation to share with the class.
Common Core
LAFS.3.RF.4.4
Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support
comprehension.
a. Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.
b. Read on-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy,
appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.
c. Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition
and understanding, rereading as necessary.
ISTE Students
1. Creativity and Innovation
a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or
processes
b. Create original works as a means of personal or group
expression.
Computer lab, internet access, PowerPoint, Curriculum resource
page, project checklist
Five Things (Elements of a Short Story)
This video gives in-depth explanations and examples of the
elements of a short story. The song is catchy and will help
students remember the elements (plot, conflict, characters, theme,
and setting).
Day One (90 minutes)
1. Show students the Five Things video
2. Take a moment to answer any questions about the five
elements
3. Cinderella presentation
a. Teachers read the first paragraph of Cinderella
b. Pick several students to each read a paragraph or
two until the story is over

c. With the help of students, identify the five

elements of the story (plot, characters, conflict,
theme, and setting) and go through the PowerPoint
presentation
4. Distribute curriculum resource page
5. Distribute project checklist
6. Give students 10 minutes to look over the curriculum
resource page and pick their story

Guided Practice:
Independent Practice
and Assessment:

Accommodations/
Modifications:

References:

Day Two (2 hours)

1. Assign project/discuss curriculum resource page with
students
2. Go over expectations and project requirements
(stated on checklist)
3. Give students 30 minutes to work alone on project
4. After this, give students a 10 minute period to look at
other students projects and discuss the stories with their
peers
5. Allow 30 more minutes to complete presentations
6. Take volunteers or select students to share their
presentation in front of the class
7. After 5 presentations, hold a short (10 minute maximum)
class discussion
a. Ask the following questions, if possible:
i. What was your favorite part?
ii. What did you learn from the other
presentations?
iii. How can you use these skills in the future?
8. Instruct the students to email a copy of their PowerPoint
to the teacher and turn in their checklists
9. Grade the projects according to the checklist that was
provided
After watching the Five Things video and reading Cinderella
as a class, the students will work with the teacher(s) to identify
the plot, characters, theme, conflict, and setting of the story.
The students will have to create their own PowerPoint
presentation about a story they chose from the curriculum
resource page. This is a graded project.
Gifted: Students will have the option to read Jack and the
Beanstalk

Five Things (Elements of a Short Story)

Cinderella
Illustrated Short Stories for Kids