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W.1 Identify and understand the setting in stories

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Understanding Setting

The setting of a story tells us where and when the story happens. It is the place and the time in which the characters live and the events take place.

Examples of Setting:
  • The Three Little Pigs takes place in the pigs’ houses and around the forest.
  • Goldilocks and the Three Bears happens inside the bears’ house.
  • Little Red Riding Hood takes place in the woods and at Grandmother’s house.
Helpful Hint

When you read, ask yourself: Where is the story happening? When is it happening? This will help you identify the setting.

Different Types of Settings

Stories can take place in many different settings. Some are real places, and some are imaginary places. The setting can also tell us if the story happens during the day or at night, or long ago or today.

Examples:
  • Cinderella happens in a palace a long time ago.
  • The Cat in the Hat happens in a house on a rainy day.
  • Jack and the Beanstalk takes place at Jack’s home and in the giant’s castle in the sky.
Helpful Hint

Look for words and pictures that tell you about the place and time. These clues help you recognize the setting.

How Setting Affects the Story

The setting is important because it can change how the characters act and what happens in the story. The place and time can create problems or help solve them.

Examples:
  • In The Three Little Pigs, the setting in the forest allows the wolf to find the pigs’ houses.
  • In Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the setting in the bears’ home makes it possible for Goldilocks to find the porridge, chairs, and beds.
  • In Jack and the Beanstalk, the giant’s castle creates new adventures and challenges for Jack.
Helpful Hint

Think about how the story would be different if it happened in another place or time. The setting helps shape the story’s events.

Comparing Settings

Sometimes stories have more than one setting. Readers can compare these settings to understand how they change the story or affect the characters.

Examples:
  • In Jack and the Beanstalk, the story begins in Jack’s small home and then moves to the giant’s castle.
  • In Little Red Riding Hood, the setting changes from the woods to Grandmother’s house.
  • In Cinderella, the setting shifts from her home to the royal palace.
Helpful Hint

Ask yourself: Where does the story start? Where does it end? How are these places the same or different? This helps you follow the story more clearly.

Why Setting Matters

The setting makes the story more interesting and realistic. It helps us imagine what is happening and understand why the characters do what they do.

Practice Ideas:
  • Draw a picture of the setting from your favorite story.
  • Make a list of words that describe the setting (forest, castle, house, daytime, nighttime).
  • Act out a scene and show where it takes place.
  • Talk about how the story might change if it happened somewhere else.
Helpful Hint

Every story has a setting. Paying attention to the setting helps you imagine the story and understand it better.