Narrative Structure Basics

Year Level

Year 5

Duration

30 minutes

Unit

Exploring Narrative Adventures (Lesson 1 of 10)

---

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Understand and identify the key elements of narrative structure: setting, characters, conflict, and resolution.
• Describe these narrative elements within a familiar story.
• Use metalanguage related to narrative structure appropriately.

Aligned Australian Curriculum (v9) content descriptions:

• AC9E5LA03: Describe how spoken, written and multimodal texts use language features and are typically organised into characteristic stages and phases, depending on purposes in texts .
• Develop familiarity with the typical stages and language features of narrative texts, their purpose and organisation .

---

Curriculum Links

• English — Literature and Literacy strand, focusing on narrative texts and their structures.
• Emphasis on comprehension and expression through discussion, listening, and oral language.
• Development of critical metalanguage for narrative features.

---

Resources

• A well-known storybook familiar to Year 5 students (e.g., The Magic Faraway Tree, Charlotte's Web, or an Australian First Nations narrative suitable for Year 5)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Narrative Structure Chart handout (columns for Setting, Characters, Conflict, Resolution)
• Sticky notes or index cards
• Timer or clock

---

Lesson Breakdown

1. Engagement & Introduction (5 minutes)

• Begin by asking students about stories they enjoy — what makes stories interesting?
• Write responses on the board to activate prior knowledge.
• Introduce the lesson focus: "Today, we'll explore what every good story needs — its basic building blocks."
• Briefly explain and list the four key narrative elements: Setting, Characters, Conflict, Resolution.

2. Explicit Teaching: Narrative Elements (7 minutes)

• Define each element clearly with student-friendly language:
  • Setting: Where and when the story happens.
  • Characters: Who the story is about.
  • Conflict: The problem or challenge the characters face.
  • Resolution: How the problem is solved.
• Use examples from the chosen storybook to illustrate each element.
• Write brief examples on the board for each element from the story.

3. Guided Practice: Identifying Narrative Elements (10 minutes)

• Read (or play an audio recording of) the chosen story excerpt aloud to the class (choose a section that contains clear examples).
• Distribute the Narrative Structure Chart handout.
• In pairs, students discuss and fill out the chart for the excerpt:
  • Write or draw the setting.
  • List main characters.
  • Identify the conflict.
  • Predict or note the resolution if introduced.
• Teacher circulates, scaffolds discussion, and prompts with questions if necessary.

4. Independent Reflection: Quick Write (5 minutes)

• Ask students to write a short paragraph or bullet points answering:
  • What makes a story interesting based on today's lesson?
  • Which narrative element do they find most important and why?
• Collect responses to assess understanding and inform next lessons.

5. Conclusion and Link to Next Lesson (3 minutes)

• Recap the four key elements with students by calling on volunteers to share examples from the story.
• Preview next lesson: "Next time, we’ll begin creating our own stories using these building blocks!"
• Remind students to think about stories they like and consider what parts relate to setting, character, conflict, and resolution.

---

Assessment

• Formative assessment through observation of pair discussions and completed Narrative Structure Chart.
• Review student quick writes to assess comprehension of narrative elements and ability to use metalanguage.
• Adjust teaching if many students demonstrate misconceptions or gaps.

---

Differentiation

• For students needing support: Provide sentence starters and key vocabulary cards for the Narrative Structure Chart.
• For advanced learners: Challenge to identify subelements such as minor characters or secondary conflicts.
• Use multimodal supports like images or story maps for English language learners or those needing visual aids.

---

Cross-Curriculum Priorities and General Capabilities

• Literacy: Develop comprehension, speaking, listening, and writing skills.
• Critical and Creative Thinking: Evaluating and synthesising story elements.
• Personal and Social Capability: Collaboration during paired activities.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures: Optionally select an Indigenous narrative to promote cultural awareness and connection.

---

This lesson aligns closely with the Year 5 English Australian Curriculum (v9) requirements for understanding narrative texts, their structure, and language features, specifically addressing AC9E5LA03 while fostering oral and written skills in a collaborative learning environment . The lesson is intentionally paced to fit a 30-minute session suitable for a class of 30 Year 5 students. It encourages active participation, critical thinking, and reflection, perfect for engaging upper primary students in foundational narrative study.