Story Elements - Grade 4

Story Elements

4th Grade

​Objective

• To identify the elements of a story

  • ​Characters

  • Setting

  • Plot

Characters

The people, creatures, or animals who exist in a story

​

PROTAGONIST - the main character in the story

​

ANTAGONIST - the character who opposes (or is against) the main character

Multiple Choice

Who is the protagonist in Moana?

• Moana

• Te Ka

Multiple Choice

Consider Iron Man and Thanos.

Choose the correct labels for each character.

• Iron Man - Protagonist

  Thanos - Protagonist

• Iron Man - Protagonist

  Thanos - Antagonist

• Iron Man - Antagonist

  Thanos - Protagonist

• Iron Man- Antagonist

  Thanos - Antagonist

• dusk

• afternoon

• last day of school

• June 6, 1934

• the future

Time

• a meadow

• playground

• Disneyland

• your home

• outer space

Place

​Setting:

The place & time in which a story occurs

Multiple Select

Choose two correct answers.

Which words describe the setting of the image?

• Paris, France

• late evening at sunset

• Ratatouille

• spoon

Plot

The main events in a story

(What happens in the story from beginning to end)

• Exposition (characters, setting & conflict are introduced)

• Rising Action​ (small events that happen as the conflict is trying to be resolved)

• Climax (turning point of the story)

• Falling Action (wrapping up of loose ends)

• Resolution (conclusion--the end)​

Match

Match the following movie to the description of the plot?

• EXPOSITION: A construction worker finds an important building piece.

  CLIMAX: He and his new friends try to stop an evil tyrant from freezing the world.

  RESOLUTION: A father and son find some common ground.

• EXPOSITION: A villain is excluded from a party.

  RISING ACTION: He goes on a quest to win a medal and become a hero.

  RESOLUTION: He nearly destroys the world with an infestation of insects but manages to save everyone.

• EXPOSITION: A young animal runs away when he is blamed for his father's death.

  RISING ACTION: He grows up in the forest with his friends.

  CLIMAX: He returns to fight his uncle.

• Exposition: Two toys are lost.

  Climax: A mean boy tries to blow them up.

  Resolution: The toys are reunited with their owner.

The Lego Movie

Wreck-It-Ralph

The Lion King

Toy Story

• The Lego Movie

• Wreck-It-Ralph

• The Lion King

• Toy Story

Conflict & Resolution

CONFLICT: a problem that affects the characters but is usually solved at the end

​

RESOLUTION: how the character fixes the problem

Multiple Choice

Can you identify the folktale based on its CONFLICT?

CONFLICT: Three creatures find that a child has invaded their home and tampered with their food.

• Goldilocks and the Three Bears

• Jack and the Beanstalk

• Little Red Riding Hood

• The Three Little Pigs

Multiple Choice

Can you identify the folktale based on its RESOLUTION?

RESOLUTION: The boy chops down the beanstalk and the giant falls.

• Goldilocks and the Three Bears

• Jack and the Beanstalk

• Little Red Riding Hood

• The Three Little Pigs

Draw

Circle the part of the plot structure where the characters, setting, and conflict are introduced.

Draw

Circle the part of the plot structure that shows the climax.

Draw

Circle the part of the plot structure that shows the resolution (conclusion).

Draw

Circle the part of the plot structure that shows the rising action.

Draw

Circle the part of the plot structure that shows the exposition (introduction).

Draw

Circle the part of the plot structure that shows the falling action.

Reorder

Put the plot structure of a story in the correct order.

• Exposition (introduction & conflict)

• Rising Action

• Climax

• Falling Action

• Resolution (conclusion)

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Poll

How do you feel about the elements of a story?

• I understand it and can explain it to someone else.

• I understand it but cannot explain it to someone else.

• I still have a few questions.

• I don't understand it at all.