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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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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Story Elements Four Corners
Engage your students in exploring key story elements with this Four Corners activity!
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Hansel and Gretel Retelling Activity Cards
Teach your students about retelling with this set of sequencing cards for Hansel and Gretel.
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Story Retell Interactive Graphic Organisers
Explore the elements of a retell with your students using this digital activity.
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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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3 Billy Goats Gruff Retelling Activity Cards
Teach your students about retelling with this set of sequencing cards for 3 Billy Goats Gruff.
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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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Story Elements Worksheets – The Ants and the Grasshopper
Practise identifying the story characters, settings and main events with this set of worksheets based on a traditional tale.
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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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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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Character Traits Graphic Organiser
Describe the most notable mental and moral qualities of a real or fictional person.
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Literature Study Task Cards (Upper Primary)
Explore the wonders of children's literature with this set of 14 literature study task cards for upper primary students.
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Literature Study Task Cards (Lower Primary)
Explore the wonders of children's literature with this set of 12 literature study task cards for lower primary students.
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Why Bears Have Stumpy Tails – Sequencing Worksheet
Identify the story beginning, series of events and ending with this narrative text sequencing activity.
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Read and Roll - Comprehension Dice Game
A fun reading comprehension strategy game to play in the classroom during literacy groups.
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Write a Short Story – Overcoming Obstacles
Get your students analysing and writing overcoming obstacles short stories with this engaging and fully scaffolded writing project booklet.
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Narrator and Point of View Digital Quiz
Discover how narrator and point of view can be taught in a fun and engaging way with this interactive quiz designed to help primary students become confident readers and critical thinkers.
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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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Story Archetypes Teaching Slides
Teach story archetypes with this engaging slide deck that introduces students to ten of the most common plot patterns in literature.
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Examples of Story Settings Teaching Slides
Discover engaging examples of story settings with this teaching presentation that introduces students to ten classic settings in children’s literature.
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Classroom Movie Grid - Story Element Review Choice Board
Turn a movie day into a learning experience with our Classroom Movie Grid Story Element Review Choice Board.
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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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Voice in Narrative Writing Prompts
Explore voice in narrative with this set of engaging worksheets that require students to write literary passages in different points of view.
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Story Settings Booklet
Explore common story settings in literature with this engaging 8-page mini book that helps students analyse settings from their own reading.
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Plot Archetypes Booklet
Explore plot archetypes with this engaging 8-page mini book that helps students analyse familiar story structures.
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Social Context in Literature Graphic Organiser
Support students to explore social context in literature with this two-page graphic organiser that helps them explore societal norms in a piece of literature.
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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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Comparing and Contrasting Texts Graphic Organisers
Support students in comparing and contrasting texts with this versatile set of graphic organisers designed to deepen comprehension and enhance classroom discussions.
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Narrative Elements Fairy Tale Sorting Activity
Explore narrative elements with this fairy tale sorting activity in the shape of a castle.
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Problem and Solution Worksheets
Explore narrative elements with this set of problem and solution worksheets.
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5 Elements of a Short Story Activity
Explore the 5 elements of a short story using this digital activity with five short stories.
- 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