1st–2nd GradeObjectives

• Usingillustrationsanddetailsinastorytodescribeitscharacters,settingorevents

• Usinginformationfromillustrationsandwordstodemonstrateunderstandingofcharacters,settingorplot

Materials Needed• Nate the Great and the Mushy ValentinebyMarjorie

WeinmanSharmat• StoryElementschart• Chartpaper,chalkboardordocumentcamera• Markerorchalk• StoryElementsspinner• StoryElementsstoryandquestions• Pencils• Paperclips

Introduction

ReadaloudNate the Great and the Mushy ValentinebyMarjorieWeinmanSharmat.

Procedure1. Afterreadingthestory,explaintostudentsthattheywillbetakingacloserlookatthestoryelementstosee

howthestoryisconstructedandtobetterunderstandwhatthey’veread.

2.GiveeachstudentacopyoftheStoryElementschart,andcopythechartontochartpaperorachalkboardforstudentstosee(oruseadocumentcameratopostitonascreen).

3.Beginbydefiningthetermsofthestoryelements.Thenofferscaffoldingsentencestodemonstrateandencouragestudents.Forexample:

•“Thesettingiswhereandwhenthestorytakesplace.Whataresomecluesinthestorythattellusorshowusthesetting?Thesettingis…”

•“Aproblemisdefinedas…”and“Theprobleminthestoryis…”

4.Revisitthetextandhavestudentshelpyoufillineachpartofthechartbylookingforanswersinthetextandsupportingtheirresponsesbyrecordingthepages/pagenumberswheretheanswersarefound.Forexample,“Thetitleofthestory,Nate the Great and the Mushy Valentine,canbefoundonthecoverpage,insidecoverandtitlepage.”Whenidentifyingthestoryelementstogether,demonstratehowtoorganizeandrecordthoseelementsontheclasschart.Havestudentswritetheanswersontheirownchartsaswell.Discussthestoryelements(characters,setting,problemandsolution/conclusion)ascommonfeaturesofmostchapterbooks.(Studentscanalsoworkingroupsorpairstosearchthetextcloselyforanswers.)

5.Encouragevolunteerstoprovideexamplesfromthebookorofferspecificdetailsfromthestorythatgivecluestosupporttheiranswers.

©Lakeshore www.lakeshorelearning.com

6.Oncetheclasschartiscompleted,reviewtheinformationtobesurethatstudentsunderstandtheconceptbehindeachstoryelementandhowtoidentifyeachelementinagivenstory.

Independent Practice

1. ProvideeachstudentwithacopyoftheStoryElementsstoryandquestions.

2.Challengestudentstoreadthestoryandcompletetheactivitythathelpsthemidentifyeachstoryelement.

Learning Extension

1. PlaceaStoryElementsspinnerandseveralcopiesoftheStoryElementschartinaclassroomlearningcenter.

2.Whenstudentsfinishreadingastory,encouragethemtovisitthelearningcentertocompleteaStoryElementschartontheirown.

3.Givestudentsaspinner,apaperclipandapencil.Showstudentshowtousethepaperclipasthearrowforthespinner:Takethepaperclipandslideitontothepencil.Thenholdthepenciluprightwiththetipinthecenterofthespinner.Flickthepapercliptomakeitspinaroundthepencil.

4.Askstudentstospinthespinnerandfillintheinformationfromtheirstoryinthecorrespondingspaceonthechart.Remindstudentsthatthe“Solution”sectionofthespinnercorrespondstothe“Solution/Conclusion”spaceonthechart.(Alternatively,youmaywanttohavestudentsreadapassageorstorywithapartnerandcompletethecenteractivitytogetherasagame,takingturnstospinthespinnerandfillinresponsesontheirchartsuntileachstudenthascompletedachart.)

©Lakeshore www.lakeshorelearning.com

Characters Setting

Prob

lemSolution

©Lakeshore www.lakeshorelearning.com

SettingCharacters

Solution/ConclusionProblem

Characters Setting

Prob

lemSolution

Jacktookhisyoungerbrothercamping.ItwasSeth’sfirsttimesleepingoutinthewoods.

SethhelpedJackfindwoodforthefire.Thentheywenttotheriverandcaughtafishfordinner.JackshowedSethhowtocookthefishoverthefire.Sethwashavingagreattime!

Afterdinner,itgotdarkquickly.JackandSethsatbythefire.Jacktoldascarystoryaboutmonsters.Thentheboysgotouttheirsleepingbags.

A Happy Ending

©Lakeshore www.lakeshorelearning.com

Sethlayinhissleepingbag.Hecouldnotstopthinkingaboutmonsters.HetoldJackhewouldneverbeabletosleep.

Jackwassorrythathehadtoldthestory.HewantedtomakeSethfeelbetter.SoJackquicklythoughtofanewending.

“Iforgottotellyousomething,”Jacksaid.“Ifyouhavealuckystone,themonsterswillnotbotheryou.Ibroughtoneforyou.”

JackgaveSethasmoothstone.Sethwasnotscaredanymore.Soontheywerebothfastasleep.

©Lakeshore www.lakeshorelearning.com

©Lakeshore www.lakeshorelearning.com

Name DateName Date

Who? What? Where?

Record the story’s characters, setting,problem, and solution.

Characters

Setting

Problem

Solution