ELA: Story Structure
Identifying plot, conflict, climax, and resolution
ELA: Story Structure
Identifying plot, conflict, climax, and resolution
ELA - Grade 4-5
- 1
Read the story idea: Maya loses her class library book on the bus. She searches her backpack, asks the bus driver, and finally finds it under a seat the next morning. What is the main conflict in this story?
The conflict is the main problem the character must solve.
The main conflict is that Maya loses her class library book and needs to find it. - 2
In a story, the setting is where and when the story takes place. Identify the setting in this sentence: On a rainy Saturday morning, Leo explored his grandmother's attic.
The setting is Leo's grandmother's attic on a rainy Saturday morning. - 3
Put these story events in the best order: A. The team wins the final game. B. The team practices every day after school. C. The team loses its first game badly. D. The team decides not to give up.
Look for the event that starts the problem, then follow how the characters respond.
The best order is C, D, B, A. First the team loses, then decides not to give up, then practices, and finally wins the final game. - 4
Read the passage: Talia wanted to win the school art contest. At first, her sketch looked messy. She erased it three times, watched a video about shading, and asked her older brother for advice. By Friday, she had painted a bright jungle scene. Which event is part of the rising action?
An event in the rising action is when Talia watches a video about shading or asks her older brother for advice. These events show her working toward solving the problem before the ending. - 5
A story mountain often shows the beginning, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Which part of the story usually has the most exciting or important turning point?
Think about the highest point on a story mountain.
The climax usually has the most exciting or important turning point in the story. - 6
Read the story idea: A squirrel cannot reach the bird feeder. It tries jumping from the fence, climbing a pole, and balancing on a flowerpot. Finally, it gives up and eats fallen seeds instead. What is the resolution?
The resolution is that the squirrel gives up trying to reach the bird feeder and eats fallen seeds instead. - 7
Write one possible conflict for a story with this setting: a crowded airport during a snowstorm.
Use the setting to create a problem that characters might face.
One possible conflict is that a family gets separated in the crowded airport while their flight is delayed by the snowstorm. - 8
Read the sentence: After Jamal apologized, he and his best friend worked together to rebuild the broken model rocket. Is this most likely part of the beginning, climax, or resolution of a story? Explain your answer.
This is most likely part of the resolution because the problem between Jamal and his friend is being solved and the story is coming to a close. - 9
A character's goal is what the character wants to do or achieve. In the sentence, Nina studied every night because she wanted to earn a spot on the math team, what is Nina's goal?
Nina's goal is to earn a spot on the math team. - 10
Read the events: 1. Ben enters a baking contest. 2. Ben burns his first batch of cookies. 3. Ben learns to measure ingredients carefully. 4. Ben bakes a new batch and wins second place. Which event is the conflict?
The conflict is the event that creates trouble or a challenge for the main character.
The conflict is that Ben burns his first batch of cookies, which creates a problem he needs to solve. - 11
Read the passage: The lights flickered as Priya stepped into the old theater. Dust covered the red seats, and the stage curtain swayed even though no window was open. What mood does this setting create?
This setting creates a mysterious or spooky mood because of the flickering lights, dust, and moving curtain. - 12
Choose the best climax for this story: A boy trains for a bike race, gets a flat tire on race day, fixes it quickly, and keeps riding. A. He signs up for the race. B. He gets a flat tire during the race. C. He eats breakfast before the race. D. He puts his bike away after the race.
The climax is often the moment when the main character faces the hardest challenge.
The best climax is B. He gets a flat tire during the race. This is the biggest challenge and turning point in the story. - 13
Complete this story structure chart for the story idea: Emma finds a stray kitten, tries to locate its owner, and discovers it belongs to her new neighbor. Write the character, conflict, and resolution.
The character is Emma. The conflict is that she finds a stray kitten and needs to locate its owner. The resolution is that she discovers the kitten belongs to her new neighbor. - 14
Read the passage: Carlos wanted to tell the truth about the broken window, but he was afraid he would get in trouble. This is an example of internal conflict or external conflict? Explain your answer.
Internal conflict happens inside a character. External conflict happens between a character and an outside force.
This is an internal conflict because Carlos is struggling with his own feelings and decision inside his mind. - 15
Plan a short story about a student who forgets an important homework folder at home. Write one sentence for the beginning, one sentence for the middle, and one sentence for the end.
A strong answer should include a beginning that introduces the student and problem, a middle that shows the student trying to solve the problem, and an end that explains how the problem is resolved.