Point of View
If the storyteller is not a character in the story, who is telling the story?
A narrator
What is the setting of a story?
Where and when the story takes place
“The baby is as quiet as a mouse.” What does this mean?
The baby is very quiet.
“I'm tired of waiting!” Max grumbled. What does grumbled probably mean?
Complained in an unhappy voice
What is the theme or lesson of a story?
A message or lesson the reader can learn from the story.
Read: “I grabbed my backpack and hurried toward the bus.” Who is telling the story?
A character in the story
Maya wants to ride her bike, but a thunderstorm begins. How does the setting affect Maya?
She cannot/should not ride her bike outside.
“The classroom was as cold as an icebox.” What does this tell you?
The classroom was very cold.
The enormous elephant barely fit through the gate. What does enormous mean?
Very large
Mia practices shooting baskets every day. At first she misses, but eventually she makes five in a row. What lesson could Mia learn?
Practice helps you improve / Don't give up.
Read: “Carlos looked out the window. He wished the rain would stop.” Is this told by Carlos or a narrator?
A narrator
Ben can't reach his kite stuck in a tree. His sister brings him a long pole. How does his sister affect the story?
She helps Ben solve his problem.
“Waiting for recess felt like waiting a hundred years.” How is the character probably feeling?
Impatient, bored, or excited for recess
Sofia was exhausted after running around the track. She sat down and rested. What does exhausted mean?
Very tired
Sam refuses help building a huge block tower. It keeps falling. He finally lets his friend help, and together they finish it. What lesson does Sam learn?
Working together can help us succeed / It's okay to accept help.
What words are clues that a story is being told in first person?
I, me, my, we, our
Liam forgets his lunch. His friend shares a sandwich with him. What is the problem and solution?
Problem: Liam has no lunch. Solution: His friend shares.
“Ella raced across the playground like a cheetah.” What does the comparison tell you about Ella?
She was running very fast.
The puppy was timid. It hid behind its owner when strangers came near. What does timid mean?
Shy or afraid
Ava finds a wallet on the playground and gives it to her teacher. Later, the owner thanks Ava for returning it. What lesson does the story teach?
Doing the right thing/being honest is important.
Read: “I couldn't believe my eyes! The puppy was sitting inside my backpack.” How do you know a character is telling the story?
The narrator uses words such as “I” and “my.”
Why can a story's setting be important to what happens to the characters?
The setting can cause problems, affect characters' choices, or cause events to happen.
“The last ten minutes of class crawled by like a turtle.” Explain what this probably means and give evidence you might expect to find in the story.
Time felt very slow. Evidence might show the character was bored, impatient, or waiting for something.
Jay was reluctant to jump into the cold pool. He stood at the edge and said, “I don't know if I want to.” What does reluctant mean, and what context clue helped you?
Unsure/unwilling; his words and standing at the edge give clues.
Theo wants to win the science contest by himself. After struggling, he listens to his teammates' ideas. Together they improve the project and win. What is the lesson AND which event best proves Theo learned it?
Lesson: Working/listening to others can help you succeed. Evidence: Theo listens to his teammates and works with them.