Narrative Setting: The Backdrop for Storytelling

Narrative setting is the foundation of any story. It’s what gives a story its mood, context and sense of place. Narrative setting influences the characters’ actions, the challenges they face and how the reader feels in response to the environment. 

This short story writing project has been designed to support your students in understanding the importance of a narrative setting when shaping a story. To complete the project, students will read and analyze the short story, Forest Friends. They will then take a closer look at the text’s narrative elements through a series of guided questions before planning a narrative of their own that changes the narrative setting of the sample text. This resource conveniently combines reading comprehension, text analysis and creative writing in one activity.

The student workbook contains everything your students need to adapt a short story by changing the narrative setting. It includes:

• Instruction page
• Example short story, Forest Friends
• Guided analysis questions 
• Setting adaptation ideas 
• Graphic organizers for plot and language planning
• Lined pages for drafting and editing
• Narrative writing checklist
• Assessment rubric

This ready-to-use, curriculum-aligned resource provides structured support for your students while encouraging creativity as they explore their own adaptation ideas.

Change Where a Story Takes Place: Scaffolded Support for Students

When it comes to narrative writing, coming up with a story idea from scratch can be very daunting for younger students. Working from a sample text like Forest Friends gives students a clear starting point and reduces overwhelm. Here’s how this approach supports success:

• Provides a model – Students see how narrative elements work in an example story that is well-structured and age-appropriate.
• Guided analysis – Questions highlight key features like setting, character and plot and how authors use language to create these.
• Supported creativity – Students adapt a story rather than invent a new one, making the task achievable and enjoyable.

Download to Adapt the Setting in a Story

Teach narrative settings and their role in stories with this comprehensive writing project, specifically designed for elementary students. It downloads as an easy-print PDF or editable Google Slides file. Use the dropdown menu on the Download button to access your preferred version. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template before accessing it).

For sustainability purposes, please consider printing this workbook double-sided. 

More Resources for Exploring Story Settings

Looking for more teacher-created, curriculum-aligned resources to use when teaching your students about story settings? Click below to explore a sample of our resources from our extensive library.

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Describe a Story Setting Worksheets

Download these engaging story setting worksheets that help students brainstorm descriptive language and write vivid setting descriptions with ease.

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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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Story Settings Booklet

Explore common story settings in literature with this engaging 8-page mini book that helps students analyze settings from their own reading.