You will learn
- Tell where a story happens.
- Tell when it happens.
- Describe the setting with words.
- Say how the setting matters to the story.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- The setting is where and when.
- Stories can be in many places.
- Describing words help us picture the setting.
- The setting can change the story.
Words to know
where and when a story happens
a place with many trees
a small town
see in your mind
1. Discover: The dark forest
It was night in the dark forest. The trees were tall and the wind was cold. An owl hooted. Kofi held his lamp tightly. He was lost, but he followed the bright stars until he saw his village.
Think: Where and when does this story happen?
2. Understand: Where and when
Idea 1: Place and time
The setting is the place (the dark forest) and the time (night).
Idea 2: Describe it
Describing words help us picture it: dark, tall, cold.
Idea 3: It matters
The setting changes the story. A forest at night is scary. A sunny beach is happy.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Where?
Where does the story happen?
- Find the place.
- Say it.
Answer: in the dark forest
Example 2 (We do it together): When?
When does the story happen?
- Find the time.
- Say it.
Answer: at night
Example 3 (You try): Describe
Which words describe the forest?
Show the steps and answer
- Look for describing words.
- List them.
Answer: dark, tall, cold
Did you know?
Writers choose a setting to make readers feel a certain way, such as scared, calm or excited.
Why this matters
Understanding setting helps you imagine the story and know why things happen.
4. Explore: Setting sketch
Draw the setting.
- Read about a setting.
- Draw it.
- Add three describing words.
- Say how it feels.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can show a setting in a picture.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The story happens in ___.
- It happens at ___.
- The setting is ___.
- It feels ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Where does the story happen?
in the dark forest
Question 2. When does it happen?
at night
Question 3. Describing words?
dark, tall, cold
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Where is Kofi?
- When is it?
- What hooted?
- What did Kofi hold?
- What did he follow?
Level 2: Grow
- Describe the wind.
- Name another place for a story.
- How does the dark forest feel?
Level 3: Stretch
- Write two sentences about a setting you know.
- Why does the setting matter?
- Ayo says the story happens at noon. Is he right?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Describe your favourite place to a family member.
Show a sample answer
The beach is sunny and warm.
Another one. Draw a setting for a story you like and label it.
Show a sample answer
A forest with trees and an owl.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Setting is where and when.
Fix: Say how it feels.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can tell where a story happens.
- I can tell when.
- I can describe the setting.
- I can say why it matters.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Setting is where and when.
- Describing words help us picture it.
- The setting creates a mood.
- The setting can change the story.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Retelling stories. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is a setting? [1 mark]
- Where and when does the Kofi story happen? [2 marks]
- Name two describing words for the forest. [2 marks]
- How does the setting make you feel? [1 mark]
- Explain why the setting matters. [3 marks]
Total: 9 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- where and when a story happens [1]
- in the dark forest [1]; at night [1]
- dark [1]; tall or cold [1]
- a feeling with reason [1]
- helps us picture the story [1]; creates a mood [1]; changes what happens [1]
Score guide: 8 to 9 = secure. 6 to 7 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- The setting is where and ___.
- The story happens in the dark ___.
- It happens at ___.
- An ___ hooted.
- Kofi held a ___.
- The wind was ___.
- True or false: setting is only the place.
- True or false: setting can create a mood.
- Draw a setting.
- Describe a setting in two sentences.
Homework
Draw and describe the setting of a story you know.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The setting is where and ___. | when | 1 |
| 2. The story happens in the dark ___. | forest | 1 |
| 3. It happens at ___. | night | 1 |
| 4. An ___ hooted. | owl | 1 |
| 5. Kofi held a ___. | lamp | 1 |
| 6. The wind was ___. | cold | 1 |
| 7. True or false: setting is only the place. | false | 1 |
| 8. True or false: setting can create a mood. | true | 1 |
| 9. Draw a setting. | a drawing | 1 |
| 10. Describe a setting in two sentences. | two sentences | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 in the forest; 2 night; 3 an owl; 4 a lamp; 5 the bright stars. Level 2: 1 cold; 2 e.g. a beach; 3 scary. Level 3: 1 two sentences; 2 it changes the mood; 3 no, it is night.
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Tell where a story happens | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Tell when it happens | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Describe the setting with words | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Say how the setting matters to the story | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Forgetting the time. Setting is where and when.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use pictures of different settings.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child thinks about where and when stories happen. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Ask: where does the story happen?
- Describe places together.
- Draw settings.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: tell where a story happens; tell when it happens; describe the setting with words; say how the setting matters to the story.
Prerequisite knowledge. Story characters.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Read the forest story aloud.
Explanation (10 min). Teach setting and mood.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise setting sketch.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners share their sketches.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Where? When? What words describe it? How does it feel?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use pictures of settings. Extension. Write a story with a setting change.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Forgetting the time. Setting is where and when.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 9-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use pictures of different settings. Enrichment. Write a story set in two places. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 1 » Reading: Literature. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core RL.1.3 and RL.1.7 (use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events); Cambridge Primary English Stage 1 (reading stories and settings). These sources informed the lesson.