Let's Explore Stories: Characters and Settings!

English Language Arts Grades Pre-K 4:39 Video
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Lesson Description

A fun lesson to learn about characters and settings in stories! We'll watch a video, play games, and learn how to find the characters and where the story takes place.

Video Resource

Character and setting

Learning is fun

Duration: 4:39
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Character: Who is in the story.
  • Setting: Where the story takes place.
  • Characters can be people, animals, or creatures.
  • The setting tells us when and where something happens.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify characters in a story.
  • Students will be able to identify the setting of a story.
  • Students will be able to differentiate between characters and settings.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Greet students and introduce the topic: characters and settings. Ask: 'Have you ever heard a story? Stories have people (or animals!) in them, and they happen somewhere special! Today we'll learn all about it!'
  • Video Time! (10 mins)
    Play the YouTube video: 'Character and setting' by Learning is fun. Remind students to watch carefully and listen for the people/animals in the story and where the story takes place.
  • Discuss the Video (5 mins)
    After the video, ask simple questions: 'Who was in the video? Did you see any animals or people? Where did some of the stories happen in the video?'
  • Character or Setting Game (10 mins)
    Show pictures of different things (e.g., a dog, a park, a tree, a child). Ask: 'Is this a character or a setting?' Have students raise their hands to answer. Encourage them to explain why.
  • Story Time! (10 mins)
    Read a short, simple picture book aloud. Before starting, tell the students to listen for the characters and the place where the story happens. Afterwards, ask, 'Who were the characters in the story? Where did the story take place?'
  • Puppet Retell (10 mins)
    Provide puppets. Encourage children to use them to retell the story they just heard, focusing on the characters and setting. 'Show me who was in the story using the puppets! Where did the story happen?'

Interactive Exercises

  • Character and Setting Sort
    Provide pictures of characters and settings (printed or drawn). Have students sort them into two groups: 'Characters' and 'Settings'. This could be done individually or as a group activity.
  • Draw Your Own!
    Have the students draw a picture of their favorite setting and a character that would fit in that setting.

Discussion Questions

  • What is a character?
  • What is a setting?
  • Can you think of your favorite story? Who are the characters and where does it take place?
  • What other places could a story happen at?

Skills Developed

  • Listening comprehension
  • Vocabulary development
  • Critical thinking (identifying characters and settings)
  • Oral communication (answering questions, retelling stories)

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Who is in a story?

Correct Answer: A character

Question 2:

Where does a story happen?

Correct Answer: In a setting

Question 3:

Is a dog a character?

Correct Answer: Yes

Question 4:

Is a park a setting?

Correct Answer: Yes

Question 5:

Which one is a character?

Correct Answer: Cat

Question 6:

Which one is a setting?

Correct Answer: Ocean

Question 7:

A story about a princess happens in a...

Correct Answer: Castle

Question 8:

A story about a bear who lives in a...

Correct Answer: Cave

Question 9:

The boy in the story is the...

Correct Answer: Character

Question 10:

The place where the story happens is the...

Correct Answer: Setting

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A _________ is someone in the story.

Correct Answer: character

Question 2:

The _________ is where the story happens.

Correct Answer: setting

Question 3:

A person or animal in a story is a ___________.

Correct Answer: character

Question 4:

A house, a park, or a school is a ___________.

Correct Answer: setting

Question 5:

The _______ tells us where and when the story happens.

Correct Answer: setting

Question 6:

The _______ is who the story is about.

Correct Answer: character

Question 7:

A bear is a _________ in a story.

Correct Answer: character

Question 8:

A school is a _________ in a story.

Correct Answer: setting

Question 9:

The _____ helps the story take place.

Correct Answer: setting

Question 10:

We learn about the story through the _______

Correct Answer: character

Educational Standards

PK.3.R.3:Students will identify characters in a story with prompting. PK.3.R.2:Students will answer basic questions (e.g., who, what, where, and when) about texts, photographs, or illustrations during shared reading or other text experiences with prompting. PK.1.L.1:Students will actively listen using agreed-upon rules with prompting. PK.2.R:Students will begin to retell or reenact major events or details from a read-aloud. PK.1.S.3:Students will ask and answer questions with prompting.

Teaching Materials

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