Narrative Elements Teaching Resources
Are you teaching narrative elements and looking for worksheets and activities to get students excited about tone, narration, plot and a host of other elements to writing a great story? Wondering how to engage primary students on the concept of character traits and make plot development as exciting as recess?
The English teachers on the Teach Starter team have done just that with a collection of printable worksheets and digital activities built around this core reading standard. Aligned with the Australian English curriculum, each narrative elements activity in this collection has undergone a careful review by a member of our teacher team to ensure it's ready for your lesson plans and your students.
Explore our teacher team's guide to learn more about the various narrative elements and how to bring them to life in your classroom!
Is this your first year teaching about these story elements? Or the first year in a while? Our teacher team has put together a quick refresher to get you ready to rock and roll in the classroom, including a way to explain what narrative elements are.
What Are Narrative Elements? A Kid-Friendly Definition
First thing's first: Let's talk about the definition.
Narrative elements are the basic components of writing that the author uses to share the story with the reader. Without them, the narrative falls apart!
They are sometimes referred to as story elements or literary elements. No matter what you call them, these elements give a piece of writing structure and help the author convey information to the reader.
On the reading side, literary elements are also key to breaking down a story to understand better what the author is trying to say.
What Are Examples of Narrative Elements? 8 Examples That Can Help Your Students
There are eight main examples of narrative elements that students will encounter in narrative texts:
1. Setting
This element is crucial for developing a story as it provides the time in which the story takes place as well as where it takes place. Setting helps ground the story.
2. Plot
The plot is the way a story unfolds. It's essentially a pattern for the text.
3. Conflict
Conflict helps move a plot forward as it offers the reader a climax to move toward as they read.
4. Characterisation
This element of writing covers the way characters are developed within a story.
5. Point of View
Also called narration, this literary element is the perspective from which a story is told, such as first person or third person.
6. Tone
The tone of a story can be boiled down to the author's attitude about the subject of the story.
7. Genre
Genre covers the type of story written, such as realistic fiction, science fiction or even magical realism.
8. Figurative Language
Similes, metaphors and onomatopoeia are just some examples of the figurative language students may encounter in a text.
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Retelling a Story Workbook
Help your students retain the elements of a retell with this printable retelling stories student workbook.
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5 Finger Retell Teaching Slides
Teach your students about the 5 finger retell strategy with this set of teaching slides.
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Three Little Pigs Retelling Activity Cards
Teach your students about retelling with this set of sequencing cards for The Three Little Pigs.
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Comparing Characters - Graphic Organisers
Encourage your students to compare story characters with this set of differentiated graphic organisers that can be used with any text.
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Beginning, Middle and End Mini-Book - The Three Little Pigs
Teach your students about the beginning, middle and end of a story with this mini-book retell of The Three Little Pigs.
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Elements of a Story Activity Workbook
Explore the different elements of a narrative story with this student mini workbook.
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Narrative Features Worksheets - Hickory Dickory Dock
Identify characters, settings and parts of a story with early years reading worksheets featuring the Hickory Dickory Dock nursery rhyme.
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Story Basics: Narrative Features - Teaching Presentation
Use this interactive teaching presentation to introduce your early years students to the basic features of stories.
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Readers' Theatre - Itsy Bitsy Spider Read and Retell Activity
Engage young readers in texts with a dramatic reading of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and accompanying story retelling activity.
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Character Analysis Task Cards
Get your students to perform a character analysis for any fictional character using this set of 20 task cards.
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Character Profile Flip Book - Lower Primary
Explore story characters with this flipbook template for lower primary students.
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Character Adjective Concertina Template – Blank
Learn how adjectives can be used to describe a character's appearance and personality with a hands-on craft activity aligned to the English curriculum.
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Comparing Narrative Voice Worksheets
Teach how narrative voice shapes the reader's experience of texts with this set of worksheets where students compare passages written from different points of view.
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Character and Setting Connections Cut-and-Paste Pack
Explore the connection between characters and settings with this cut and paste activity pack.
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Book an Adventure Craft - Suitcase Book Review
Boost reading comprehension skills with a Book an Adventure Craft to engage young readers during Children’s Book Week.
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Story Elements Four Corners
Engage your students in exploring key story elements with this Four Corners activity!
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Types of Characters - Poster
Remind students about the types of characters that can be found in stories with this colourful classroom poster.
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Problem and Solution Interactive Peg Cards
Practise identifying problems and solutions with an interactive peg card activity.
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Character Traits Graphic Organiser
Describe the most notable mental and moral qualities of a real or fictional person.
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Crabbing at Night - Sequencing Worksheet
Identify the story beginning, series of events and ending with this narrative text sequencing activity.
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Book Report Mini Book
Have students write about their favourite literature with this fun-sized mini-book.
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Types of Point of View in Literature Poster
Teach the types of point of view in literature with this classroom poster that explains first person, third person limited, and third person omniscient narration.
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Point of View in a Narrative Booklet
Explore point of view in a narrative with this engaging mini book that helps students analyse the narrative voice of a book they have recently read.
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Narration and Point of View Worksheets
Use these narration and point of view comprehension passages to help students explore different narrative voices in literary texts.
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Style of an Author Inquiry Project
Explore the style of an author with this engaging classroom project that helps students analyse, understand and present what makes an author’s writing unique.
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Author Style Teaching Slides
Teach your students about author style with this engaging slide deck that helps students understand the different elements that make up an author’s unique voice.
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Reader Response Journal for Literature
Help students think critically about key story elements such as character, plot and theme with this 22-page reader response journal set.
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Narrative Features Worksheets - Humpty Dumpty
Identify characters, settings and parts of a story with early years reading worksheets featuring the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme.
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Mood Anchor Chart- Literary Element Poster
Introduce your students to mood, the atmosphere-creating literary element, with a printable Mood Anchor Chart.
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5 Finger Retell Graphic Organisers
Help students sort out their thoughts during retelling with this set of three 5 finger retelling graphic organisers.
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Little Red Riding Hood Retelling Activity Cards
Teach your students about retelling with this set of sequencing cards for Little Red Riding Hood.
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Story Elements Cut and Paste Worksheets – The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Explore story characters, settings and main events with this set of cut-and-paste worksheets based on a well-known fable.
- Narrative Elements Worksheets
- Narrative Elements Templates
- Narrative Elements Teaching Presentations
- Narrative Elements Games
- Narrative Elements Posters
- Narrative Elements for Foundation Year
- Narrative Elements for Year 1
- Narrative Elements for Year 2
- Narrative Elements for Year 3
- Narrative Elements for Year 4
- Narrative Elements for Year 5
- Narrative Elements for Year 6