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An introduction to the essential parts of a story, including characters, setting, and the main problem.
Have you ever wondered why some stories make you want to keep reading until the very last page? It is because every great story is built with secret ingredients!
Every story starts with Characters. These are the people, animals, or even magical creatures that the story is about. The main character is the most important one—the star of the show! To find them, ask yourself: 'Who is this story mostly about?' A story can have main character or a whole group of friends.
Quick Check
If a story is about a brave dog named Max who saves a kitten, who is the main character?
Answer
Max the dog.
The Setting is where and when the story happens. It is like the stage for a play. A setting can be a real place, like a school, or a make-believe place, like a castle on the moon. It also includes the time, like 'a long time ago' or 'on a snowy winter morning.' Look for descriptive words that help you picture the place in your mind.
Read this sentence: 'Deep in the dark forest, the owls began to hoot as the moon rose.' 1. Where is it? The dark forest. 2. When is it? At night (when the moon rose).
Quick Check
True or False: The setting only tells us WHERE a story happens.
Answer
False. It also tells us WHEN it happens.
The Problem is the challenge or trouble the characters face. This is the 'Uh-oh!' moment. Without a problem, a story would be very boring because nothing would happen! Maybe a character lost their favorite toy, or perhaps they are trying to win a big race. The story is usually about how the characters try to fix this problem.
Scenario: 'Maya was excited to play soccer outside. Suddenly, huge rain clouds covered the sun and it started to pour!' 1. Character: Maya. 2. Setting: Outside, on a sunny (then rainy) day. 3. Problem: It is raining, so Maya cannot play soccer.
Quick Check
What is the 'Uh-oh' moment in a story called?
Answer
The problem.
Read this mini-story: 'In the year , a robot named Pip lived on Mars. One day, Pip’s battery ran out of power, and he could not find his charger!' 1. Character: Pip the robot. 2. Setting: Mars in the year . 3. Problem: Pip's battery is empty and he lost his charger.
Which of these is an example of a SETTING?
If a story is about a girl named Sarah trying to fix her broken bike, what is the PROBLEM?
Animals can be characters in a story.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, when you wake up, try to name the ingredients of a story: the Who, the Where/When, and the Uh-oh!
Practice Activity
Pick your favorite movie or bedtime book. Can you point out the main character, the setting, and the main problem?