Lesson 51: Beginning, middle, and end

📖 READING (40 Lessons) • 🔵 B. Understanding Stories

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Objective

Identify and retell the beginning, middle, and end of short stories using first, next, last language.

Materials

Mini-lesson — Beginning, middle, and end

Most stories have three big parts that go in order.

  • Beginning — We meet the characters and see where they are. Something starts.
  • Middle — Something happens. There might be a problem or a big event.
  • End — We find out how things finish. The problem is solved or the day is done.

Listen to this tiny story:

  • Beginning: “Maya puts her drawing in her backpack and walks to school.”
  • Middle: “On the playground, her drawing falls out and blows across the yard.”
  • End: “Her friend catches the drawing, and Maya smiles and puts it safely away.”

Good readers ask:

  • “What happens first?” (beginning)
  • “What happens next?” (middle)
  • “What happens last?” (end)

Today, you will practice using the words first, then, and last to retell short stories in order.

Picture strip: Three-part story road

Guided Practice — Mini-book: The Lost Hat

How to use this mini-book:

  • Read all the pages one time through.
  • Go back and decide which pages show the beginning, middle, and end.
  • Retell the story using the words first, next, and last.

After reading, draw three small pictures on your paper: one for the beginning, one for the middle, and one for the end.

Story words
first next then last beginning middle end

Tip: Ask yourself, “Did this happen at the start, in the middle, or at the end of the story?”

Mini-Book: The Lost Hat

1

Ben puts on his blue hat.

He and his sister walk down the street to the playground.

2

Ben runs to the swings and climbs the ladder.

He does not see his hat slip off and fall in the grass.

3

When it is time to go, Ben reaches for his hat.

It is gone, so he and his sister look under the bench and by the slide.

4

A little boy holds up the blue hat.

“You dropped this,” he says. Ben thanks him and walks home smiling.

Reading Practice — Which part is it?

Read each tiny story. Drag the best label into the box to show whether it is the Beginning, Middle, or End of a story. Chips stay in their own question. When you are done, press “Check sentences.”

Ella ties her shoes and walks to the park with her dad.
This sentence is from the of the story.

Beginning Middle End

A strong wind blows, and Ella’s kite gets stuck in a tree.
This sentence is from the of the story.

Beginning Middle End

Ella’s dad gets the kite down, and they walk home together, smiling.
This sentence is from the of the story.

Beginning Middle End

Jay walks into the library and picks out a big dinosaur book.
This sentence is from the of the story.

Beginning Middle End

Jay cannot find a seat, so he looks around for an empty chair.
This sentence is from the of the story.

Beginning Middle End

Jay sits in the chair and quietly reads until it is time to go home.
This sentence is from the of the story.

Beginning Middle End

The team lines up on the field and listens to the coach.
This sentence is from the of the story.

Beginning Middle End

The ball flies through the air, and the players run to catch it.
This sentence is from the of the story.

Beginning Middle End

The team wins the game, and they cheer and high-five each other.
This sentence is from the of the story.

Beginning Middle End

Sam’s tower falls down, so he takes a deep breath and starts to build it again.
This sentence is from the of the story.

Beginning Middle End

Quick Check (5 questions)

What does the beginning of a story usually do?

What usually happens in the middle of a story?

What does the end of a story usually tell?

Which set shows the story parts in the right order?

When you retell a story, what should you do?

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

I will practice…

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