Characters, Setting, Beginning, Middle, End Lesson-Grade 1
Objectives
 Students will be able to identify the main characters in the story.
 The students will be able to identify the setting of the story.
 The students will be able to identify the events that make up the
beginning, middle and end of the story.
Materials
Book-Owen by Kevin Henkes
Chef hat-Optional
Apron-Optional
Cooking pot
Spoon
Photocopy of cover of book
Three different colored note cards one labeled characters, one labeled
setting, one labeled beginning, middle, end
Extra note cards of same color used for characters, setting and beginning,
middle, end (***Have the beginning, middle and end cards written ahead of
time to save time)
Chair for cooking pot
Procedures
 Before starting the lesson, have the cards labeled characters,
setting, beginning, middle and end in the cooking pot as well as the
photocopy of the cover of the book (You don’t want the students to
see the photocopy of the cover)
 Have students gather on the floor and put on apron and chef’s hat.
Place cooking pot on chair, take off lid and start stirring.
 Explain that you are “cooking” a story stew and you need to make sure
you have all the needed ingredients. Ask students to explain the
“ingredients” needed to create a story. As students give answers
(characters, setting, beginning, middle, end) pull out the corresponding
cards and drop back into the pot.
o Discuss definition of each “ingredient”
 Characters-people or animals in story
 Setting-Where story takes place
 Beginning, middle and end
Beginning-Character and setting introduced as well
as problem
 Middle-How characters try to solve the problem
 End-How the problem is solved
Explain you now want to make a specific story stew-one for the book
Owen. Remind students as you read the story they need to be
listening for the different “ingredients” used by the author.
Discuss story as read
After you finish reading story, ask students to name one of the
ingredients needed for the story (***Start with either characters or
setting and save beginning, middle, end for last). Continue until
discussed all ingredients
Ask students to name the characters in the story and record each one
on a card the same color as the original character card. As you write
the cards, place them in the cooking pot and stir.
o Owen, Mom, Dad, Mrs. Tweezers, Fuzzy (the blanket)
Ask students to name the setting of the story. As you write the card,
place it in the cooking pot and stir.
o Home
Ask students to describe what happened at the beginning, middle and
end (***To save time have these cards pre-written). As you write the
cards, place them in the cooking pot and stir.
o Beginning-Owen takes his blanket, Fuzzy, everywhere. Parents
want Owen to give up Fuzzy.
o Middle-Owen’s parents tell Owen the Blanket Fairy is coming.
Owen’s father dips a corner of Fuzzy in vinegar. Owen’s parents
tell him he can’t take Fuzzy to school.
o End-Owen’s mother cuts Fuzzy apart into little handkerchiefs.
Once all of the ingredients have been added, give one final stir and
explain when you have all of the ingredients present for the story
stew (characters, setting, beginning, middle, end) you then have a
story. Pull out the photocopied cover of the book.
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Lesson adapted from - “Story Stew-Teaching Character, Plot and Setting”
http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/1353.html