The Open Garden Gate (Story Map)

Read the story together first. Then ask who, where, what went wrong and how it was fixed, one box at a time. A drawing is a fine answer. Check with the answer key.

Read a story about chickens loose from the garden gate and fill in a story map. A story map shows the parts of a story. Read the story, then use it to fill in the map. The directions on the page read: Read the story. Then, turn the page and fill in the story map. On page 2: Write a few words in each box. Then, circle the letter of the best answer. The answer key covers the questions on page 2.

Yes, both. We made it for 1st Grade story elements, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with story maps. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.

Four boxes: characters (who), setting (where), problem (what goes wrong) and solution (how it gets fixed). Children can write a few words or draw a picture in each box.

Yes. A drawing shows the same understanding, and many 1st graders draw first and add a word or two after.

Once the four boxes are filled in, the map works like a plan. Your child can point to each box and tell the story in order.

Yes. All thirteen story maps have an answer key for the story map page, with the words from the story that give each answer.

Story elements are the main parts of a story: the characters (who), the setting (where), the problem (what goes wrong) and the solution (how it gets fixed). 1st graders describe the characters, setting and major events using key details (RL.1.3).

A story map is a page of boxes, one for each part of the story. After reading, children write a few words or draw a picture in each box, which helps them retell the story in order.

Ask what went wrong, then ask how it got fixed. On the problem and solution pages, each mini story is only two or three sentences, so children can find both parts quickly and then think of a fix of their own.