Level 1 • Lesson 50 — Main characters and setting

Objective

Identify the main characters and the setting in short stories using pictures and key words.

Materials

Highlighter or crayon to mark character and setting words
Pencil/Paper with two boxes: “Characters” and “Setting”
The Sound Pad (bottom right corner) to hear letter and digraph sounds

Mini-lesson — What are characters and setting?

Every story has characters and a setting.

Characters are the people, animals, or creatures in the story.
Main characters are the most important ones. They show up a lot and do the big actions.
Setting is where the story happens and sometimes when it happens.

Look at this tiny story idea:

“Anna and her dad look out the window. It is raining outside.”

The main characters are Anna and her dad.
The setting is at home, near the window, on a rainy day.

Good readers use both the pictures and the words to find these clues.

To find characters, look for names and who is doing the action.
To find the setting, look for place words (park, school, home) and time words (at night, in the morning).

In this lesson, you will practice saying:

“The main characters are…”
“The setting is…”

This helps the story feel clear in your mind, like a little movie you can see and talk about.

Picture strip: “Anna and Dad on a rainy day”

Guided Practice — Mini-book: The Rainy Walk

How to use this mini-book:

On each page, point to or circle the characters.
Underline or point to the setting words (where and when).
Say out loud: “The main characters are…” and “The setting is…”

After reading, draw one picture that shows the main characters and the setting together.

Story clues

who? where? when? character setting

Tip: If you are not sure, ask: “Who do I see most?” and “Where do I see them?”

Mini-Book: The Rainy Walk

1

Anna and her dad look out the window.

It is raining outside. The street is wet and gray.

2

They put on boots and coats.

They open the door and step into the rain.

3

Anna jumps in a puddle on the sidewalk.

Her dad laughs and holds an umbrella over her.

4

They walk home when the clouds move away.

The sun peeks out over the houses and the street shines.

Reading Practice — Drag to show characters and setting

Read each tiny story. Drag the best answer into the box to show the main characters or the setting. Chips stay in their own question. When you are done, press “Check sentences.”

Liam and Zoe ride their bikes to the park.
The main characters are .

Liam and Zoe the park the bikes

Liam and Zoe ride their bikes at the park.
The setting is .

at the park in the kitchen at school

The cat naps on a rug by the window.
The main character is .

the cat the rug the window

The cat naps on a rug by the window.
The setting is .

by the window under the rug on the moon

The teacher and the class read a book together.
The main characters are .

the teacher and the class the book the desks

The teacher and the class read a book in the classroom.
The setting is .

in the classroom on the bus at the beach

Two foxes run through the forest at night.
The main characters are .

two foxes the forest the night

Two foxes run in the forest at night.
The setting is .

in the forest at night in the kitchen at school in the day

Mia and her mom bake cookies in the kitchen.
The main characters are .

Mia and her mom the cookies the oven

Mia and her mom bake cookies in the kitchen.
The setting is .

in the kitchen on the playground on the bus

Quick Check (5 questions)

What is a main character?

The place where the story happens The most important person or animal in the story The title of the book

What is the setting of a story?

Where and sometimes when the story happens The name of the main character The number of pages in the book

Story: “Ben and his sister build a sandcastle on the beach.”
Who are the main characters?

The sandcastle The beach Ben and his sister

Story: “Ben and his sister build a sandcastle on the beach.”
What is the setting?

At school On the beach In the forest

Why is it helpful to know the setting?

It helps you picture where and when the story happens It tells you how many chapters are in the book It shows you how to spell every word

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Can name the main character(s) in a short story Can identify the setting (place, sometimes time) Uses both pictures and words to find characters and setting Can explain who the story is about and where it happens in their own words

Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can find the main characters and setting 🙂 I need more practice 😅 It still feels tricky

I will practice…

Asking “Who is this story mostly about?” Asking “Where is this happening?” Drawing a picture that shows the characters and the setting together

Lesson 50: Main characters and setting