Setting Lesson Plan: Key Ideas and Details

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Setting, and supports the standard of describing in depth a setting in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Prompt students to think of a popular movie or book, like Star Wars or Harry Potter. Ask:

  • What kinds of details show when and where the story takes place? 
  • How would the story be different if it took place somewhere else? In a different time period? 

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Assign the Setting Challenge and Quiz, prompting students to apply essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about setting while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

  • Make-a-Movie: Create a trailer for your favorite book. Draw readers in by describing the setting in detail. 
  • Make-a-Map: Make a concept map identifying how setting influences the plot, characters, and theme of your favorite book. 
  • Creative Coding: Code a sorting game challenging players to determine the type of setting different details describe. 

More to Explore

Related BrainPOP Topics: Deepen understanding of story elements with these topics: Theme, Story Conflict, and Plot. 

Teacher Support Resources:

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Related:

    Filed as:  3-5, 6-8, BrainPOP, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.6, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.6, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.6, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1