Navigating the Plot of the Story: Helping 3rd Graders Distinguish Story Elements

By Rissa Hanneken

Ever scratch your head wondering why some students can quickly pick up on the plot of the story while others seem to be flipping through a totally different book? It often comes down to those nitty-gritty story elements: characters, setting, and plot of the story. In this post, I’m sharing 3 strategies you can use to help them gain a full understanding of how to find the plot of the story.

1. Definitions and Examples of the Plot of the Story

A good foundation starts with clarity. Before diving into stories, ensure your students have a solid understanding of the different story elements.

In the primary grades, reading comprehension focuses on identifying the characters in a story, the problem and solution, and the setting at a basic level.

As students transition to 3rd grade and beyond, we want them to focus on the overall plot of the story, but first – they need to know what we mean by “plot of the story.”

Plot: It’s the sequence of events in the story – the action. Think of it as the heartbeat of any tale.

Examples of plots in well-known stories are:

• The Tortoise and the Hare: Race between the two animals and its unexpected outcome.
• Jack and the Beanstalk: Jack faces off against the giant
• The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy and her new friends journeying to see the Wizard and find their way home.

2. Plot of the Story Graphic Organizers that Help Students

Graphic organizers can be incredibly helpful in breaking down and distinguishing story elements. Here’s how:

Plot Maps: These diagrams provide a clear structure for the story. From the introduction to the rising action, climax or turning point, falling action, and resolution or conclusion, plot maps give students a visual representation of how the story unfolds.

Separate Organizers: To ensure that students don’t mix up the different elements, have separate organizers for character, setting, theme, etc. This way, they can visually differentiate between them, understanding the distinct role each plays in a story.

3. Story Elements Color Coding

Adding a touch of color can truly change the learning game. By assigning each story element a unique color, students can actively engage with the content they’re reading or listening to.

For example:

• Blue for Plot: Students can highlight sequences and events that drive the story.
• Yellow for Characters: Any information related to a character’s description or role can be marked in red.
• Green for Setting: Passages that describe where and when the story is taking place can be highlighted in green.

… and so forth. This strategy not only makes reading interactive but also helps in quick revisions.

In this resource, 3rd Grade Reading Comprehension Passage – Plot of the Story, I used this method to differentiate the three elements for a clear visual for students.

If we want our young readers to truly “get” a story, we’ve got to help them see the building blocks. Through straight-to-the-point definitions, relatable examples, graphic organizers, and a splash of color coding, we can give them the decoder ring to any narrative. Going back to our question – the secret to helping students wrap their heads around a story is making those elements as clear as can be.

Have questions? Reply to this post, and let’s brainstorm ideas for your classroom!

Reading Comprehension Resources for Your 3rd Grade Classroom

If you need reading resources that cover 3rd grade reading standards – these close reading packs are perfect!

• Plot of the Story
• Story Setting
• Character Traits
• Theme of the Story
• Point of View