Understanding Story

StructureSiân Miller, EDMT 330 Winter 2010, First Grade Language Arts

Unpacking

Identify problem/solution,

sequence of events,

and sense of story

(beginning, middle, and end).

Or, in other words:

STORY ARC

beginning

middle

end

STORY ARC

Beginning:

Middle:

End:

MainCharacter(s)

Setting

Problem

!

Action!Adventure!

Resolution

Problem solved?

climax

Hansel and GretelBy Siân Miller

Title

Name

Picture

Beginning

Main Characters: Setting: Problem:

Hansel

Gretel

In the woods No food

Picture

Title

Answers these questions:Who is the story about?Where does the story happen?What is the problem that starts out the story?

Image credit: Arthur’s Clip Art

MiddleTitle

Picture

Main Events:Hansel and Gretel get lost in the woods.

They find the Witch’s gingerbread house.

The Witch puts Hansel in a cage and plans to eat him!

Climax: Gretel pushes the Witch into the oven.

Answer these questions:

What are some of the main events? (at least 3)

What is the climax of the story?

Image credit: WP Clip Art

EndTitle

Picture

Resolution: Hansel and Gretel escape the Witch and go home to their father.

Problem solved?

Yes, because with the Witch’s money the family has plenty of money for food.

Answer these questions:

How does the story end?

Is the problem from the beginning solved?

Image credit: Lee Hansen Clip Art

Credits

All art is original, or supplied by Microsoft’s clip art gallery, with the Following exceptions:

Slide 6: Log cabin imageSource: Arthur’s Clip Art (original image)

Slide 7: Hansel and Gretel imageSource: WP Clip Art (original image)

Slide 8: Treasure imageSource: Lee Hansen Clip Art (original image)