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Story Structure Activities

A lot of stories have the same parts. These parts have names like climax, rising action, inciting incident and so forth. We study these parts to gain an appreciation for how stories are told. We hope that students emulate these structures in their own writings.

How great would it be to read a narrative essay that had a climax? Before students can write those in their stories consistently, they have to learn about turning points. This page contains free activities to help students master story structure.

Story Structure Lesson 1
Here is a PowerPoint slideshow on Story Structure. Students read a short story called "Gertrude the Great." Then they are introduced to story structure terms like rising action, climax, resolution.
This is a preview image of Story Structure Lesson 1. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Story Structure Lesson 2
Here is another slideshow lesson on Story Structure. Students read a short story called "The Breakaway," a motivational story about an athlete who sustains an injury and has to find another way to succeed. Then they will analyze and identify structural elements of the story. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
This is a preview image of Story Structure Lesson 2. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Story Structure Quiz 1 | "Unto Others"
This is a story structure quizzed based on a short story called "Unto Others." Students read the story, which is about acceptance and redemption, and then they answer multiple choice questions about the structure of the story. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.
This is a preview image of "Unto Others". Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Story Structure Quiz 2 | "Blood is Thicker"
This is a story structure quizzed based on a short story called Blood is Thicker. It is about two sisters who are complete opposites. They must learn to work together to achieve their goals. Students read the short story and answer multiple choice questions about the structure of the story. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
This is a preview image of "Blood is Thicker". Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Story Structure Quiz 3 | "Time Warriors"
This is a story structure quizzed based on a short story called Time Warriors. Alex is dismayed when his mother forces him to take his little brother with him to a friend's house. He learns to appreciate him by the end of the story. Students read the short story and complete multiple choice questions about the structure of the narrative. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.
This is a preview image of "Time Warriors". Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Story Structure Handout
Here's a nice overview of narrative structure for students. This story structure handout includes information about exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This is great for introducing or reviewing story structure.
This is a preview image of Story Structure Handout. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Story Structure Graphic Organizer 1
Are you looking for a graphic organizer to help your students learn story structure? Here's a blank story structure graphic organizer. You can use it to analyze the structure of any story that has a turning point.
This is a preview image of Story Structure Graphic Organizer 1. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Story Structure Graphic Organizer 2
Here's another nice overview of narrative structure for students. This story structure graphic organizer includes information about exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
This is a preview image of Story Structure Graphic Organizer 2. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Illustrate Elements of Fiction
Here's a fun, student-centered activity to help students review the elements of fictions. In this assignment students will define terms related to the elements of fiction (setting, plot, rising action, etc.), create an example, and then illustrate the examples.
This is a preview image of Illustrate Elements of Fiction. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.

I hope these activities help your students master story structure. Also check out these free story structure worksheets:

Story Structure
Common Core State Standards

Story Structure Anchor Standard
R.5 - Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.

RL.2.5 - Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.
RL.3.5 - Refer to parts of stories, dramas, and poems when writing or speaking about a text, using terms such as chapter, scene, and stanza; describe how each successive part builds on earlier sections.
RL.4.5 - Explain major differences between poems, drama, and prose, and refer to the structural elements of poems (e.g., verse, rhythm, meter) and drama (e.g., casts of characters, settings, descriptions, dialogue, stage directions) when writing or speaking about a text.
RL.5.5 - Explain how a series of chapters, scenes, or stanzas fits together to provide the overall structure of a particular story, drama, or poem.
RL.6.5 - Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.
RL.7.5 - Analyze how a drama’s or poem’s form or structure (e.g., soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning.
RL.8.5 - Compare and contrast the structure of two or more texts and analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style.
RL.9-10.5 - Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
RL.11-12.5 - Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a text (e.g., the choice of where to begin or end a story, the choice to provide a comedic or tragic resolution) contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic impact.
Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for R.5
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42 Comments

  1. Victoria Franklin

     /  October 28, 2020

    Honestly, each time I come to this site, I always leave as a proud teacher and I teach like a champion. Thanks a million times for this act of generosity. I wish i can get to this level of blessing my generation like you. I covet this gigt. Thanks and remain blessed sir.

    Reply
  2. Sonia M

     /  October 16, 2018

    This is such a wonderful source of information and resources. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Holla

     /  May 10, 2018

    Thank you so much!!!
    I got to prepare for my English test with this!!!
    Helped a lot!

    Reply
  4. Gina Sands

     /  September 11, 2014

    Mr. Morton,

    I applaud the energy, effort, and expertise that you have put into all of your resources. Over the past couple of years, I have found them to be an incredibly valuable and often times humorous tool. Love your wit and talent!

    Gina Sands

    Reply
  5. Veronica

     /  September 5, 2013

    I LOVE THIS SITE!! I am a fourth year teacher, but first year language arts and I love the resources! Common Core has made it difficult because I have no materials but this site is great!

    Reply
  6. Alberta Dunbar

     /  August 22, 2013

    Thank you, thank you!!! I would love to join your team. You have just what I need to help my students. I love your website. It gave me so much help. How may I get other lesson from your site. Thank you once again!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Use the navigation bar along the top of the site to browse, or use the search boxes to look for material covering specific skills. Best wishes!

      Reply
  7. Odessa Aleln

     /  April 8, 2013

    I love your website. Thank you so much for the help. Awesome….Awesome.

    Reply
  8. Laura Diaz

     /  March 6, 2013

    This website is fantastic for ESL! It has a lot of worksheets by different levels, and the story elements exercises are great for my students.

    Reply
  9. J. Rodgers

     /  February 12, 2013

    This is one of the best websites I have found. I really appreciate the effort and hard work that must have gone into creating this site. KUDOS!!

    Reply
  10. Agatha

     /  December 11, 2012

    Keep those worksheets, graphic organizers, and quiz with answer key comingd! Great for level 1 and 2 high school students. I’m so encouraged to keep teaching it!

    Reply
  11. Pamela

     /  December 3, 2012

    Thank you for the richness of your website. Being new to fifth grade, your site has helped to bring the joy back into teaching!

    Reply
  12. Georgiana

     /  November 30, 2012

    Mr. Morton, thank you for making my life as a teacher of literature soooo easy!

    Reply
  13. Lisa

     /  November 10, 2012

    I stumbled upon your site one night when I couldn’t sleep. After a few clicks, I couldn’t have gone back to bed if I’d wanted to! I have 6th and 8th grade reading and language arts resource classes. It is hard to find quality material to which my kiddos can relate. Imagine my excitement when I found your “stuff”!! Thank you for your hard work- you totally just made my (& my students’) year.

    Reply
  14. Michele

     /  October 25, 2012

    Great site! Very helpful and saved me a ton of time!

    Reply
  15. Kristen

     /  October 14, 2012

    Your website helps me so much! I just realized you are teaching in Illinois also! That must be why everything works so well with what I am doing. 🙂 Keep up the great work!

    Reply
  16. I found your site to be both informative and extremely useful when working with reading strategies. Great website!!!

    Reply
  17. Brittany

     /  September 25, 2012

    I love your website! I found it by accident a couple of weeks ago when I was looking for some main idea resources. I laid down my textbook this year and I am pulling resources from many different places. This website has helped me so much. I have shared with all of my co-workers, they love it too! I’ve been downloading and printing and filling my binder with your stuff.
    Thanks!

    Reply
  18. Bre

     /  September 13, 2012

    Excellent site! I am so excited to use all of the great resources..powerpoints, handouts, quizzes, etc..for all of my reading skills!!!

    Reply
  19. Dorathy W

     /  August 26, 2012

    Thank you! I’ve used your materials with struggling students and reluctant readers with great success. I appreciate all you’ve done and that you’ve added “stuff” since last time I visited.

    Reply
  20. Robin Smith

     /  June 28, 2012

    The worksheets with questions are great. I am teaching 8th grade ELA in summer school and the exercises are just right for homework and classwork.

    Reply
  21. Karen

     /  April 10, 2012

    You have an obvious passion for teaching and have worked very hard on your units. I have used all of your materials and shared them with fellow teachers. Our assessments are this week and next week and I’m feeling more confident about test scores this year based on what you have allowed me to use here. Does your state test persuasive techniques and have you considered adding any of your material here? Thank you so much for sharing your brain!

    Reply
    • Our state does not, currently, although our assessment is being revised for Common Core State Standards, so maybe soon. Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment!

      Reply
  22. This is a wonderful site. It does provide a great deal in terms of delivery instructions. This is awesome. I would appreciate if you all can have the answers to all of the worksheets.
    I just realized that some do have some dont.
    Thank you very much.

    Reply
  23. I love, love, love this website! I wish I found it earlier! But it will still work great now while we are reviewing for the state tests. Fast, short and to the point.

    Reply
  24. I am an interventionist in a school that is a failing school trying to help lift them up. I find your worksheet are thought provoking and encourages thinking skills for the students that I work with.

    Reply
  25. Great for a foreign English mentor like me. Thanks for these add-ups. until then

    Reply
  26. Jayne

     /  November 28, 2011

    These are wonderful tools, but I’m wondering if they are geared to a particular age group. I teach 4th grade, and some of the articles seem higher. Is there a way to see the level? Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  December 1, 2011

      I teach 7th and 8th grade students, so that’s generally the group that I target, but I recommend that you download the RTF files and modify challenging vocabulary to adapt these to your class. I’d like to level this site one day.

      Reply
  27. C. Becker

     /  November 27, 2011

    This is a super web site with excellent tools to teach the nuts and bolts of literature. Will you post some more examples. My students love doing these.

    Reply
  28. I was so happy that your site offered many lessons, examples, worksheets and answer keys for the objective on Theme for Reading. You guys did a wonderful job. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  November 21, 2011

      I’d like to get more answer keys together. Maybe this winter break. 😀

      Reply

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