Lesson Plan: Literary Elements Web

"Understanding Literary Elements"

Excerpt from Classroom Ideas Using Inspiration

Created by: Pamela Moline, K-6 technology coordinator, Middleton Elementary Public Schools, Middleton, MA

Grade level: 1

Subject: Language Arts/English

Overview

After reading The Snow Child, a Russian tale retold by Freya Littledale, students will discuss the book's main characters, setting, problem and solution. Using one computer that has the screen displayed to the class, the teacher will record in Inspiration what students say, creating a web that highlights the different elements of the story.

Skill

1. Students will learn to identify the main characters, setting, problem and solution in a story.

Materials needed

1. Inspiration K-12 Education Edition software
2. The Snow Child, as retold by Freya Littledale
3. Create an empty Inspiration web that the class will fill in together

Preparation

1. Read The Snow Child to the class.
2. Discuss main character, setting, problem and solution.
3. Divide the class into four groups. Assign each group to one element of the story (character, setting, problem, solution) so that during the second reading students can be listening for their part of the story.
4. Read The Snow Child to the class again.

On the computer

3. Using Inspiration, create a basic story web or template that the class can fill in with the story's main characters, setting, problem and solution.
4. Have each group report on their assigned story part. Use their answers to complete the story web.

Follow-up activities

1. Talk to students about how each story has many elements. If any part were missing, the story would not be complete, nor would it be interesting to read.
2. Write a class story. Have each group invent their own part of the story.

a. The character group decides who/what will be in the story.
b. The setting group decides where the story will take place.
c. The problem group chooses a problem for the characters to face.
d. The solution group decides what the character(s) must do to overcome the problem.

3. The teacher records each element in the story web template.
4. Print out copies of the completed story web. Later, each student writes his or her own version of the class story based on the web.