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Story Elements Exploration

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Story Elements Exploration

Read the story, then explore its characters, setting, plot, problem and solution. Use clues from the story to support your answers.

The Lantern at Kōwhai Cove

On Saturday morning, Maia and her cousin Tane were helping at Kōwhai Cove’s beach clean-up. A strong wind swept across the sand. The little lantern that marked the path to the meeting shelter tumbled away and landed in a shallow rock pool. The tide was beginning to rise. “Someone could miss the shelter,” Maia said. Tane wanted to wade in, but Maia spotted a long piece of driftwood nearby. They used it to pull the lantern gently towards the sand. Then they dried it with a clean cloth and tied it securely to a fence post beside the path. Soon, other helpers arrived and followed the lantern’s light-coloured ribbon to the shelter. Maia and Tane smiled. Their quick thinking had helped everyone find the meeting place safely.

Explore the story

Answer using details from the story. Write in full sentences when you can.

1.Who are the two main characters in “The Lantern at Kōwhai Cove”?

2.Where and when does the story begin? Name one detail that tells you.

3.What problem do Maia and Tane need to solve?

4.Which action helps solve the problem? Choose one.

They use driftwood to pull the lantern towards the sand.
They leave the lantern in the rock pool.
They move the meeting shelter.
They wait for the tide to go out.

5.How do Maia and Tane make sure the lantern stays by the path?

6.Put these events in the order they happen. Write 1, 2 and 3 beside them: ___ The lantern blows into a rock pool. ___ Helpers follow the ribbon to the shelter. ___ Maia and Tane tie the lantern to a fence post.

7.What does “tumbled away” mean in the story? Choose the closest meaning.

Moved or rolled away in an uncontrolled way
Shone brightly
Was carefully carried
Disappeared under the sand

8.Why did Maia say, “Someone could miss the shelter”? What does this tell you about her?

9.Match each story element to its meaning.

Characters
Setting
Plot
Problem
Resolution

Where and when the story happens
The events that happen
The challenge the characters face
How the challenge is solved
Who is in the story

10.Imagine the same problem happened somewhere else in Aotearoa New Zealand. Choose a new setting and explain one way it could change how Maia and Tane solve the problem.