Literary Elements
What is the theme of the story?
Teamwork and hard work can make dreams come true.
What does Max discover at the beginning of the story?
The treehouse.
Who is telling the story?
Ella
What does the idiom “Curiosity killed the cat” mean?
being too curious can get you into trouble
Name one descriptive phrase used in the story.
answers will vary.
What setting is most important in the story?
The treehouse in maple forest.
What does Ella find inside the treehouse that changes her mind?
A note from Lily.
What point of view is used in the story?
first-person point of view
Which idiom did Ella say before deciding to tell her friends about the treehouse?
“Two heads are better than one”
What kind of figurative language is “eyes lit up like fireworks”?
simile
Who is the main character of the story?
Ella
What is the rising action in the story?
Ella deciding whether to keep the treehouse secret or tell her friends.
How do we know the story is told in first-person?
the story uses words like “I” and “me”
What did Ella mean when she said “Two heads are better than one”?
it’s easier to do things together than alone
Why does the author use vivid verbs like “tugged” and “scrubbed”?
to show action and make the story more exciting
What is the conflict in the story?
Ella struggling whether to keep the treehouse secret or share it.
What is the exposition of the story?
Ella, the main character
Max, her energetic dog
The setting: a sunny spring afternoon in Maple Forest
The situation: Ella and Max are out for their usual walk when Max leads her off the main trail
How does Ella’s perspective affect the story?
It helps us understand her thoughts and feelings.
What is an idiom?
A word or phrase that has a different meaning than what it says.
How does the author build suspense early in the story?
by describing Ella’s heart racing as she follows Max through the woods
What is the solution to Ella's conflict?
Ella decides to share the treehouse with her friends and fix it together.
What is the climax of the story?
When the kids finish restoring the treehouse and stand back to admire it.
Would the story be different if told from Mia’s point of view? How?
Yes, it might show a different experience or focus on working together rather than discovering the treehouse.
Create a new idiom that could describe teamwork in the story.
answers will vary.
Write your own simile that goes along with the story.
answers will vary