STANDARDS:
ELA (7) (2007)
ELA (7) (2007)
ELA (7) (2010)
ELA (7) (2010)
ELA (7) (2010)
ELA (7) (2010)
ELA (7) (2010)
3.Distinguish among the major genres, including poetry, short stories, novels, plays, biographies, and autobiographies, and subgenres, such as folktales, myths, parables, fables, and science fiction, based on their characteristics.
8. Compare selections of culturally diverse literature and their characteristics
2.) Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text. [RL.7.2]
3.) Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).
[RL.7.3]
9.) By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the Grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. [RL.7.10]
11.) Determine two or more central ideas in a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text. [RI.7.2]
14.) Analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text, including how the major sections contribute to the whole and to the development of the ideas. [RI.7.5]
THEME: Short Story Elements
LESSON TOPIC: Using Fairy Tales to Teach Short Story Elements
OBJECTIVES:
Language Objective: TSW define the elements of a short story
TSW discuss the elements of a short story
TSW read a short story
Content Objective: TSW identify the elements of a short story in a fairy tale
TSW complete a graphic organizer to demonstrate their understanding
of the elements of a short story
LEARNING STRATEGIES: Guided Observation, Class Discussions, Graphic Organizers,
Anticipation Guide, Partner English learners with strong English speakers, Activate Prior
Knowledge, Set a Purpose for Reading, Independent practice
KEY VOCABULARY: genre, short story, fairy tale, plot, theme, setting, point of view, character, graphic organizer, protagonist, antagonist, conflict, solution/resolution, exposition statement, rising action, climax, falling action
MATERIALS: anticipation guide, graphic organizer, teacher notes on short-story elements, blank comic strips, copies of other fairy tales, copies of Little Red Riding Hood,
Short-Story Elements PowerPoint

MOTIVATION:
(Building background)
 Ask students to think about a fairy tale they heard as a child
 Ask students to think about what characteristics make up a short story
 Have students write or circle the elements of a short story on their anticipation guide
 Have students read Little Red Riding Hood silently or with a partner o Allow those in Preproduction/Early production to read a modified version with pictures
PRESENTATION:
(Language and content objectives, comprehensible input, strategies, interaction, feedback)
 Lead the class in brainstorming a list of characteristics of a short story from their anticipation guide
 Create a working definition of a short-story
 o Instruct students to write the definition on their graphic organizer
Read “Little Red Riding Hood” aloud while students follow along
 Show short story PPT while students take notes on handout
 Analyze how “Little Red Riding Hood” fits the short story elements as you discuss
 each one
The students should write the parts of the story in the appropriate place on their worksheet
PRACTICE AND APPLICATION:
(Meaningful activities, interaction, strategies, practice and application, feedback)
 Divide students into pairs (pair English learners with English speaker)


Allow pairs to choose a fairy tale (provide options with pictures for early learners)
Instruct students to read their short story with their partner
 Have pairs analyze their short stories with their partner using another graphic
 organizer
For homework, have students create a quiz on the short story elements or write their own fairy tale, noting the elements in bold print o Preproduction stage learners can use the comic strips to create their own fairy tale in pictures (Early production learners can add text) or they can illustrate the elements of a fairy tale of their choice
REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT:
(Review objectives and vocabulary, assess learning)
 Use best quizzes to compile a test
 Preproduction/Early production can take a modified quiz where they circle elements of a short story from a list
 Use rubric to evaluate graphic organizers/short stories
 End lesson by reviewing objectives on board, have students use the Ticket Out The
Door strategy to rate their understanding.
EXTENSION:

The student will either take the test on short story elements or read another fairy tale and analyze the short story elements

Short stories often contain structural and character elements that should be familiar to you. The elements in this newsletter can be used as guides to help you think about the actions, themes, and context of the story.
As you identify the elements, you will be analyzing the short story.
Theme - The main idea of a literary work, usually expressed as a generalization.
Setting - The time and place in which a work of literature happens.
Point of View - The storyteller from whose point of view the story is being told, or the narrator.
Characters – The people (or actors) in the story.
Character Analysis
The development of the characters in the story and the way in which an author reveals their personalities.
Plot - The sequence or order of events in a story.
 Exposition Statement - The part of the plot that tells how the story begins.
 Rising Action - The action in the story leading up to the climax.
 Conflict - Struggles or problems between opposing forces.
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Machine
Man vs. Self
(External)
(External)
(External)
(Internal)
 Climax - The point of crisis in the plot.
It may be the most interesting or exciting.
 Falling action – The action in the story after the climax is revealed.
 Resolution - The part of the plot that reveals the final outcome.
Discuss the theme, setting, point of view, and characters in the story. Describe the characters personalities and how they compliment the setting and demonstrate the theme.
Give a synopsis (brief summary) of the story.
Identify key elements of the plot and use examples from the story to support your thoughts
This newsletter handout is a supplement to the PowerPoint presentation
“Elements of a Short Story.” Created by Nicole Fields - June 18, 2003

NAME: _______________________________
CLASS: _______________________________
DATE: ____________________
TEACHER: Mrs. Massey
Put a check (  ) next to the sentence with which you agree.
Short stories should…
_____ be read in one sitting.
_____ be read in more than one sitting.
_____ need breaks while reading.
_____ be 2-5 pages.
_____ be more than 5 pages.
_____ have chapters.
_____ have many plots.
_____ have one big plot.
_____ have many different themes.
_____ have one main theme.
characters chapters themes plot setting point of view rhyming words argument solution

Antagonist:
Protagonist:
Time:
Place:
Exposition:
Rising Action:
Conflict:
Climax:
Falling Action:
Solution:
Others

Directions : Create a fairy tale or illustrate one from class. Use each story block to show the elements of a short story.