Success Using Interactive Story Elements

Have you ever experienced this scenario: you are delivering some of the best instruction of your career, and a hand shoots up from the middle of the awestruck classroom. Preparing yourself for what is sure to be a mind-blowing, breakthrough question, the student begins to speak, “Can I go to the bathroom?” As a teacher, I can look at this situation a couple different ways. If little Tommy never asks a question like this, it may not have had anything to do with my language arts class. However, if it’s the third time he’s asked to leave the room that hour, then maybe, just maybe, it might have something do with his lack of engagement in the lesson. One remedy for kids like Tommy is to create more interactive lessons so he can engage and test out concepts and skills. The following are interactive lesson ideas for teaching story elements, so the next time someone asks to leave class, he probably really does have to go to the bathroom.

Interactive Learning Folders

Make story elements come alive by combining a graphic organizer and a learning log. An interactive folder allows pupils to organize information and apply their learning. Made out of a manila folder and envelopes, the interactive learning folder serves as a dynamic, changing learning tool that can be utilized independently or cooperatively. In my own class, the folders are constructed from laminated manila folders and three envelopes. The envelopes are stapled to the right side of the folder and labeled. One envelope contains literature response questions, another has blank index cards, and a third is for final answers and/or reflections. When teaching story elements, the right side of the folder is left blank and used as a dry erase response board. This serves as a quick in-the-moment formative assessment of how the class is processing new information. For example, students may draw a plot diagram and match the story elements to events from a selected short story. Instead of question cards, sections of a story are printed on the index cards. Independently or with a partner, classmates put the cards in order on the plot diagram. Then using the blank index cards, pupils compose their own story for another classmate to place on the diagram. This practice activity serves as a way to engage readers with each plot element.    

Apps to Teach Story Elements

For those of us with access to technology, utilizing applications and online resources not only engages readers with text, but also can allow them to apply, synthesize, and evaluate their learning. Here are just a few ideas for motivating learners to engage in story element instruction:

• Interactive Elements: This is a website that contains interactive stories that allow readers to listen to a story and identify the individual plot elements within it. The website serves as a positive guide for readers who tend to be reluctant or struggling.

• Alexicom Elements Story Maker: This is an app that provides a variety of story templates that allow writers to create an original story. Created stories can be shared on iTunes.

• Fairy Tale: Another story-making application; however, there is the option available to change an existing story. The author can also animate story illustrations with a swipe, as well as record his/her voice. Again, the final product can be shared over the Internet or through iTunes.

More Story Element Lesson Ideas:

Story Structure Slide Show

Through analyzing elements of a story, pupils demonstrate their learning throughtableau. This is a great lesson to get your class to physically interact with content.

Using Story Elements to Write a Rap

Groups of learners work together to compose and perform a rap about the elements of plot. Although the lesson is geared for younger learners, modifications can easily be made to adjust the level for older, or higher-level learners.

Characters, Plot, and Theme—The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Disaster

Here is a lesson that uses a historical event to review story elements. Shcolars view a video and a graphic organizer and a rubric are used to assess learning.