Exploring Story Settings: Where and When Did It Happen?

English Language Arts Grades Pre-K 2:09 Video
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Lesson Description

This lesson introduces Pre-K students to the concept of setting in a story - understanding where and when a story takes place. We'll watch a fun video and explore different settings together!

Video Resource

Story Elements for Kids: What Is a Setting?

Teaching Without Frills

Duration: 2:09
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Setting is the time and place a story happens.
  • Setting answers the questions 'Where?' and 'When?'
  • Illustrations and words can help us find the setting.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define setting as the time and place of a story.
  • Students will be able to identify the setting in simple examples.
  • Students will be able to describe settings using descriptive words.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they know what a story is. Ask if they know where stories take place. Briefly explain that stories happen somewhere at some time. Today we are going to learn more about this!
  • Video Viewing (5 mins)
    Play the YouTube video "Story Elements for Kids: What Is a Setting?" (Teaching Without Frills). Ask students to pay close attention to what the video says about where and when a story takes place.
  • Discussion (5 mins)
    After the video, ask students what they learned about setting. Review the definition: Setting is the time and place a story happens. Reiterate that setting tells us where and when the story takes place.
  • Setting Examples (5 mins)
    Give examples of different settings, and ask students to describe them. Examples: "A sunny park in the daytime," "A snowy mountain at night," "A classroom during school."
  • Activity: Drawing Settings (10 mins)
    Have each student draw a picture of a setting. It could be a place they know, a place they imagine, or a place from a story. Then, have them describe their setting to the class. Encourage the students to say where and when.

Interactive Exercises

  • Setting Charades
    Act out different settings (e.g., beach, forest, school) and have the students guess where you are. Once they guess, have them describe when it is.

Discussion Questions

  • What is setting?
  • Where can a story take place?
  • When can a story take place?
  • How can you tell the setting of a story?

Skills Developed

  • Listening comprehension
  • Vocabulary development
  • Descriptive language
  • Critical thinking

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is a setting?

Correct Answer: The time and place of a story

Question 2:

If a story takes place at night, is that part of the setting?

Correct Answer: Yes!

Question 3:

Where can a story take place?

Correct Answer: All of the above

Question 4:

What can help you figure out the setting of a story?

Correct Answer: Both the pictures and the words

Question 5:

If a story is in the winter, is that part of the setting?

Correct Answer: Yes!

Question 6:

A story that takes place in a castle. What kind of place is that?

Correct Answer: A place

Question 7:

A story takes place when the sun is up. What time of day is it?

Correct Answer: Day

Question 8:

If a story takes place long ago, is that when or where?

Correct Answer: When

Question 9:

Which of these are clues in a book that can tell you about the setting?

Correct Answer: Pictures

Question 10:

A story takes place in a cave full of bats. What is that?

Correct Answer: A place

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The ______ and ______ of a story is the setting.

Correct Answer: time

Question 2:

The setting tells us _______ the story happens.

Correct Answer: where

Question 3:

The setting tells us ______ the story happens.

Correct Answer: when

Question 4:

We can look at the ________ in a book to help us find the setting.

Correct Answer: pictures

Question 5:

We can read the ________ in a book to help us find the setting.

Correct Answer: words

Question 6:

Setting can be a _______ or a place.

Correct Answer: time

Question 7:

Stories can happen in the future, present, and _______.

Correct Answer: past

Question 8:

________ is a big city where a story can take place.

Correct Answer: New York

Question 9:

________ is a place a story can take place that can be dark and scary.

Correct Answer: Haunted house

Question 10:

Describing words can help you tell what the ______ is like in a story.

Correct Answer: setting

Educational Standards

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.8.R:Students will listen and respond to read-alouds, participate in shared reading, and interact independently with texts. PK.1.L.1:Students will actively listen using agreed-upon rules with prompting. PK.1.S.2:Students will engage in collaborative discussions about various topics and texts, including their own writing, with peers and adults in small and large groups with prompting. PK.2.R:Students will begin to retell or reenact major events or details from a read-aloud.

Teaching Materials

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