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Story Elements Worksheets

17 free PDFsUS Letter or A4Answer key includedNo login

Story maps, retell pages and favorite part pages for any book, plus short read-aloud stories that teach characters, setting, problem and solution.

Download the story elements worksheets

Story map templates

Story maps for any book: characters, setting, problem and solution, or characters, setting, beginning, middle and end.

  • Preview of the printable “Story map template for kindergarten (Any Book)” worksheet: naming the characters, setting, problem and solution of a storyView larger

    Story map template for kindergarten (Any Book)

    Naming the characters, setting, problem and solution of a story

    US LetterPDFA4PDF

    1 page59 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Story Map: Characters, Setting, Beginning, Middle, end” worksheet: retelling a story with its characters, setting and main eventsView larger

    Story Map: Characters, Setting, Beginning, Middle, end

    Retelling a story with its characters, setting and main events

    US LetterPDFA4PDF

    1 page46 KB

Story elements with a read-aloud story

Listen to a short original story, then circle the characters, the setting, the problem and the solution.

  • Preview of the printable “Story Elements: Grandpa's hat” worksheet: naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud storyView all 2 pages

    Story Elements: Grandpa's hat

    Naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud story

    Answer key on page 2

    US LetterPDFA4PDF

    2 pages482 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Story Elements: Pig's party problem” worksheet: naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud storyView all 2 pages

    Story Elements: Pig's party problem

    Naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud story

    Answer key on page 2

    US LetterPDFA4PDF

    2 pages402 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Story Elements: Ollie's lost ball” worksheet: naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud storyView all 2 pages

    Story Elements: Ollie's lost ball

    Naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud story

    Answer key on page 2

    US LetterPDFA4PDF

    2 pages444 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Story Elements: penguin is cold” worksheet: naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud storyView all 2 pages

    Story Elements: penguin is cold

    Naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud story

    Answer key on page 2

    US LetterPDFA4PDF

    2 pages446 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Story Elements: Bunny's thirsty garden” worksheet: naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud storyView all 2 pages

    Story Elements: Bunny's thirsty garden

    Naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud story

    Answer key on page 2

    US LetterPDFA4PDF

    2 pages321 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Story Elements: where is Pip?” worksheet: naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud storyView all 2 pages

    Story Elements: where is Pip?

    Naming the characters, setting, problem and solution in a read-aloud story

    Answer key on page 2

    US LetterPDFA4PDF

    2 pages419 KB

Characters and setting sort

Is it a character or a setting? Children write each picture's number in the right box.

Retell a story and my favorite part

Retell with first, next, then and last, draw a favorite part or a favorite character.

Compare two characters

Two short stories about two characters, plus a template for comparing characters from any two books.

Print at 100% (actual size) for the cleanest tracing lines.

About these story elements worksheets

Every story has the same building blocks: characters (who is in it), a setting (where and when it happens), a problem and a solution. Kindergarteners who can name these parts understand stories better and retell them more fully. These story elements worksheets teach each part with pictures, so children can show what they know before they can write it.

Six pages each have a short, original story to read aloud. After listening, children circle the characters, the setting, the problem and how it was fixed. Two sort pages practice the difference between characters and settings, and two compare pages put two characters side by side with stories about the same kind of day.

The rest are templates you can use with any book: a story map, a characters, setting, beginning, middle and end map, a characters and setting page, a retell page with first, next, then and last, my favorite part, my favorite character and a compare two characters page. Children draw in the boxes and write or trace a few words.

Standards

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.2With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key details.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.9With prompting and support, compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.10Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.2Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.

How to use them

  1. Teach one element at a time. Start with characters, then setting, then problem and solution.
  2. Read the story on the page aloud twice. The first time, just enjoy it. The second time, stop and ask: "Who is in this story? Where are they?"
  3. Use the sort pages to practice the difference between characters (people and animals) and settings (places).
  4. After a read-aloud book, pick one template, such as the story map or the retell page, and fill it in together on a large sheet before children try their own.
  5. For the compare pages, read both stories, then ask how the two characters are the same and how they are different.
  6. Let children tell you about their drawings and write a word or two for them if writing is still new.

Teaching tips

  • Use the same words every time: characters, setting, problem, solution. Children pick them up quickly from repetition.
  • For setting, ask both "Where?" and "When?" A story can happen at the beach in the summer or at home at night.
  • If problem and solution feel hard, ask "What went wrong?" and "How did they fix it?" instead.
  • On the retell page, the words First, Next, Then and Last are dotted to trace. Have children say each sentence before they draw.
  • Some story pages ask children to circle 2 or 3 characters. Read that part of the question slowly.
  • The templates work with any picture book, so you can use them all year.

Questions teachers and parents ask

What are the story elements for kindergarten?

Kindergarteners learn characters (who is in the story), setting (where and when it happens) and the major events. Many classes also add the problem and the solution.

What is a story map?

A story map is a page with a box for each part of a story. Children draw or write the characters, setting, problem and solution, or the beginning, middle and end.

How do I teach kindergarteners to retell a story?

Read the story, then have your child tell it back using first, next, then and last. The retell page gives them a box to draw each part and the words to trace.

Can I use these templates with any book?

Yes. The story maps, retell page, favorite part, favorite character and compare page all work with any picture book or class read-aloud.

Are the stories original?

Yes. Every story on these pages was written for this site, so you can read and share them freely.