File Name: Document1

3 Elements of a Story 1
DIRECTIONS: SAW . Use separate paper if needed.

The Math Contest
Every Friday, Mr. Jefferson, the math teacher, held a contest for his students. Sometimes they played math
baseball. Sometimes they had math relays with flash cards. Other times, they were handed a sheet of paper
with a hundred multiplication problems on it. The student who finished with the most correct answers won the
contest.

Name:
Period
Date
__/ POINTS
GOAL
Common Core:3.RL.1; 3.RL.3; 3.RL.10; 3.RF.4.a;
3.RF.4.c; 3.SL.2; 3.L.4.a; 3.L.5
File Name: Document1



3 Elements of a Story 2
DIRECTIONS: SAW . Use separate paper if needed.

1) Today was a great day! It was so exciting to see so many animals. My favorite animal to see was the
tiger. I sure was glad he was behind metal bars though. I also thought the baby elephant was really cute.
I took lots of pictures and I can't wait to show them to my grandmother.

In what setting is this story most likely to have taken place?
a. My house b. My school
c. A farm d. A zoo

The main idea is ___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2) A transition is
a. a word or phrase
b. a word or phrase that concludes a story
c. a word or phrase that moves you to the next part of the story

3) What are three major parts of story structure?
a. Drawing conclusions, infer, predict

b. Drawing conclusions, plot,
middle

c. Characters, setting, plot

d. Characters, plot, infer


4) Making inferences from a reading selection is also called
a. dangling modifiers b. drawing conclusion
c. acting out d. drawing pictures
.
5) Which part of a book would you use to locate the title of each chapter and the page number where each
chapter begins?
a. title page b. table of contents
c. glossary d. index

6) Pictures found on a book or text's cover and/or within it are called:
a. maps b. graphs
c. illustrations d. charts


Name:
Period
Date
__/ 16 POINTS
GOAL: 13 (81%)
Common Core:3.RL.1; 3.RL.3; 3.RL.10; 3.RF.4.a;
3.RF.4.c; 3.SL.2; 3.L.4.a; 3.L.5
File Name: Document1

7) Stacy knew she was late. Her alarm clock didn't go off. She rushed trying to take a shower and get
dressed as fast as she could. She ran downstairs and ate a quick breakfast before rushing out the door.
What is most likely the setting of this story?
a. Stacys school b. McDonalds
c. Stacys house d. Stacys backyard

The main idea was _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

8) Some stories might have more than one problem and solution.
a. True b. False

9) The setting can be a place, a time, or both in the story.
a. True b. False

10) The events that make up a story are part of the story's
a. plot b. action
c. setting d. force
.
11) The person that is TELLING the story is called the:
a. character b. narrator
c. Morgan Freeman d. illustrator

12) When a story is told using First Person Point of View, the narrator is usually a character in the story.
a. True b. False

13) __________ names the part of a story that is the problem or struggle in the story and starts the action?
a. conflict b. drama
c. character d. action

14) The ______________________ is where a story takes place.
a. plot b. conclusion
c. setting d. product

15) The events that make up a story are part of the story's
a. plot b. point
c. action d. setting
.
16) A shortened form of a word of phrase is an
a. allusion b. addition
c. array d. abbreviation
.

File Name: Document1



3 Elements of a Story 3
DIRECTIONS: SAW . Use separate paper if needed.
STORY MAP

Title: _____________________________________________________________________________________
CHARACTER
What the character looks like



How the character acts



How the character changes



SETTING
When


Where


PROBLEM
What is the characters problem?



Event 1







Event 2 Event 3
Lesson




Name:
Period
Date
__/ POINTS
GOAL
Common Core:3.RL.1; 3.RL.3; 3.RL.10; 3.RF.4.a;
3.RF.4.c; 3.SL.2; 3.L.4.a; 3.L.5
File Name: Document1



3 Elements of a Story 3
Back in the old days, Bear had a tail which was his proudest possession. It was long and black and glossy and
Bear used to wave it around just so that people would look at it. Fox saw this. Fox, as everyone knows, is a
trickster and likes nothing better than fooling others. So it was that he decided to play a trick on Bear.
It was winter and the Spirit of Frost, had swept across the land, covering the lakes with ice and pounding on the
trees with his big hammer. Fox made a hole in the ice, right near a place where Bear liked to walk. By the time
Bear came by, all around Fox, in a big circle, were big trout and fat perch. Just as Bear was about to ask Fox
what he was doing, Fox twitched his tail which he had sticking through that hole in the ice and pulled out a
huge trout.
"Greetings, Brother," said Fox. "How are you this fine day?"
"Greetings," answered Bear, looking at the big circle of fat fish. " I am well, Brother. But what are you doing?"
"I am fishing," answered Fox. "Would you like to try?"
"Oh, yes," said Bear, as he started to lumber over to Fox's fishing hole.
But Fox stopped him. "Wait, Brother," he said, "This place will not be good. As you can see, I have already
caught all the fish. Let us make you a new fishing spot where you can catch many big trout."
Bear agreed and so he followed Fox to the new place, a place where, as Fox knew very well, the lake was too
shallow to catch the winter fish--which always stay in the deepest water when winter has covered their ponds.
Bear watched as Fox made the hole in the ice, already tasting the fine fish he would soon catch. "Now," Fox
said, "you must do just as I tell you. Clear your mind of all thoughts of fish. Do not even think of a song or the
fish will hear you. Turn your back to the hole and place your tail inside it. Soon a fish will come and grab your
tail and you can pull him out."
"But how will I know if a fish has grabbed my tail if my back is turned?" asked Bear.
"I will hide over here where the fish cannot see me," said Fox. "When a fish grabs your tail, I will shout. Then
you must pull as hard as you can to catch your fish. But you must be very patient. Do not move at all until I tell
Name:
Period
Date
__/ POINTS
GOAL
Common Core:3.RL.1; 3.RL.3; 3.RL.10; 3.RF.4.a;
3.RF.4.c; 3.SL.2; 3.L.4.a; 3.L.5
File Name: Document1

you."
Bear nodded, "I will do exactly as you say." He sat down next to the hole, placed his long beautiful black tail in
the icy water and turned his back.
Fox watched for a time to make sure that Bear was doing as he was told and then, very quietly, sneaked back to
his own house and went to bed. The next morning he woke up and thought of Bear. "I wonder if he is still
there," Fox said to himself. "I'll just go and check."
So Fox went back to the ice covered pond and what do you think he saw? He saw what looked like a little white
hill in the middle of the ice. It had snowed during the night and covered Bear, who had fallen asleep while
waiting for Fox to tell him to pull his tail and catch a fish. And Bear was snoring. His snores were so loud that
the ice was shaking. It was so funny that Fox rolled with laughter. But when he was through laughing, he
decided the time had come to wake up poor Bear. He crept very close to Bear's ear, took a deep breath, and then
shouted: "Now, Bear!!!"
Bear woke up with a start and pulled his long tail hard as he could. But his tail had been caught in the ice which
had frozen over during the night and as he pulled, it broke off -- Whack! -- just like that. Bear turned around to
look at the fish he had caught and instead saw his long lovely tail caught in the ice.
"Ohhh," he moaned, "Ohhh, Fox. I will get you for this." But Fox, even though he was laughing fit to kill was
still faster than Bear and he leaped aside and was gone.
So it is that even to this day Bears have short tails and no love at all for Fox. And if you ever hear a bear
moaning, it is probably because he remembers the trick Fox played on him long ago and he is mourning for his
lost tail.
File Name: Document1

Title: How Bear Lost his Tail
CHARACTER
What the character looks like



How the character acts



How the character changes



SETTING
When


Where


PROBLEM
What is the characters problem?



Event 1







Event 2 Event 3
Lesson




File Name: Document1



3 Elements of a Story 4
DIRECTIONS: SAW . Use separate paper if needed.
GLORIAS WALK
As Gloria walked, she pulled her coat tightly closed and felt herself
shivering. She was glad that she had remembered to wear her hat, scarf,
and gloves, as her mother always told her to. She smelled smoke coming
from chimneys and wished she could be inside, by a warm fireplace,
sipping sweet hot chocolate. She could see her breath in front of her and
hear her feet crunching in the snow. Gloria had to walk carefully and
watch out for ice. She squinted as the sun hit her eyes. Gloria could feel
the heaviness of her backpack. It was filled with her completed
homework, books, and lunch. Gloria checked her watch and realized that
she was late. Gloria walked as quickly as she could without slipping. She
could already hear Mrs. Simpson lecturing her on the importance of being
on time.

Name:
Period
Date
__/ POINTS
GOAL
Lexile Level:
Common Core:3.RL.1; 3.RL.3; 3.RL.10; 3.RF.4.a;
3.RF.4.c; 3.SL.2; 3.L.4.a; 3.L.5
File Name: Document1




3 Elements of a Story 5
DIRECTIONS: SAW . Use separate paper if needed.
RAINY DAY
Vera and Venus scrunched together under a tiny umbrella as they hurried
through the rain. Vera couldnt resist sticking her tongue out to taste the
rain drops. Venus was complaining because it was too cold to wear shorts.
Just last week I was able to go out without a coat but now it is too cold,
she muttered. Vera wished that it wasnt raining. Then they could have
taken their time and kicked through the fallen leaves. That was so much
more fun than worrying about slipping on them. At least they are pretty,
she thought as she admired the yellow, red and orange colors. Maybe if it
wasnt raining, they could have stopped by the park to play. Sometimes
she saw some of her friends from school there. It wouldnt be too long
before it would be too cold. She tried not to listen to Venus as she began
complaining about how much homework her teacher had given her.
Sometimes it seemed as if her sister never stopped complaining. Instead,
she began to think about how much she missed Ms. Henderson, her
teacher from last year. She still hadnt gotten used to how strict Ms.
Lyons was.



3 Elements of a Story 2 [ANSWER KEY]
Name:
Period
Date
__/ POINTS
GOAL
Lexile Level:
Common Core:3.RL.1; 3.RL.3; 3.RL.10; 3.RF.4.a;
3.RF.4.c; 3.SL.2; 3.L.4.a; 3.L.5
File Name: Document1

1) Today was a great day! It was so exciting to see so many animals. My favorite animal to see was the
tiger. I sure was glad he was behind metal bars though. I also thought the baby elephant was really cute.
I took lots of pictures and I can't wait to show them to my grandmother.

In what setting is this story most likely to have taken place?
a. My house b. My school
c. A farm d. A zoo

The main idea is the zoo is awesome!
2) A transition is
a. a word or phrase
b. a word or phrase that concludes a story
c. a word or phrase that moves you to the next part of the story

3) What are three major parts of story structure?
a. Drawing conclusions, infer, predict

b. Drawing conclusions, plot,
middle

c. Characters, setting, plot

d. Characters, plot, infer


4) Making inferences from a reading selection is also called
a. dangling modifiers b. drawing conclusion
c. acting out d. drawing pictures
.
5) Which part of a book would you use to locate the title of each chapter and the page number where each
chapter begins?
a. title page b. table of contents
c. glossary d. index

6) Pictures found on a book or text's cover and/or within it are called:
a. maps b. graphs
c. illustrations d. charts


7) Stacy knew she was late. Her alarm clock didn't go off. She rushed trying to take a shower and get
dressed as fast as she could. She ran downstairs and ate a quick breakfast before rushing out the door.
What is most likely the setting of this story?
a. Stacys school b. McDonalds
c. Stacys house d. Stacys backyard

The main idea was Stacy was late

8) Some stories might have more than one problem and solution.
File Name: Document1

a. True b. False

9) The setting can be a place, a time, or both in the story.
a. True b. False

10) The events that make up a story are part of the story's
a. plot b. action
c. setting d. force
.
11) The person that is TELLING the story is called the:
a. character b. narrator
c. Morgan Freeman d. illustrator

12) When a story is told using First Person Point of View, the narrator is usually a character in the story.
a. True b. False

13) __________ names the part of a story that is the problem or struggle in the story and starts the action?
a. conflict b. drama
c. character d. action

14) The ______________________ is where a story takes place.
a. plot b. conclusion
c. setting d. product

15) The events that make up a story are part of the story's
a. plot b. point
c. action d. setting
.
16) A shortened form of a word of phrase is an
a. allusion b. addition
c. array d. abbreviation


File Name: Document1

Title: How Bear Lost his Tail [ANSWER KEY]
CHARACTER
What the character looks like
Long black tail


How the character acts



How the character changes



SETTING
When


Where


PROBLEM
What is the characters problem?



Event 1







Event 2 Event 3
Lesson