You will learn
- Retell a story in order.
- Include characters and setting.
- Include the main problem and how it ends.
- Retell with expression.
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
- Retell in your own words.
- Include characters and setting.
- Tell the beginning, middle and end.
- Use expression.
Words to know
tell again in your own words
the important parts
something that goes wrong
how the problem is fixed
1. Discover: Tell it again
Ama retells the story of Tolu and the kitten: “Once there was a girl called Tolu. She saw a kitten stuck up a tall tree. Tolu was scared but she climbed up. She carried the kitten down. The kitten purred.” Her friends clap.
Think: What was the problem? How was it solved?
2. Understand: Retelling
Idea 1: Beginning, middle, end
Tell how the story starts, what happens, and how it ends.
Idea 2: Problem and solution
Many stories have a problem and a solution. The kitten is stuck (problem). Tolu climbs and helps (solution).
Idea 3: Expression
Use your voice to show feelings. Make it exciting!
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Problem
What is the problem in Tolu’s story?
- What goes wrong?
- Say it.
Answer: a kitten is stuck up a tall tree
Example 2 (We do it together): Solution
How is it solved?
- What does Tolu do?
- Say it.
Answer: Tolu climbs up and carries the kitten down
Example 3 (You try): Ending
How does the story end?
Show the steps and answer
- What happens last?
- Say it.
Answer: The kitten purrs.
Did you know?
Storytellers around the world retell stories to keep them alive.
Why this matters
Retelling shows that you understand the story and helps you remember it.
4. Explore: Retell and record
Practise retelling.
- Read or hear a story.
- Plan: beginning, middle, end.
- Retell it to a partner.
- Say what you liked.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can retell a story with all its parts.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The story starts with ___.
- The problem is ___.
- It is solved when ___.
- At the end ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Problem?
a kitten is stuck up a tree
Question 2. Solution?
Tolu climbs and carries it down
Question 3. Ending?
the kitten purrs
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- A story has a beginning, middle and ___.
- A problem is something that goes ___.
- The solution is how it is ___.
- Who is in Tolu’s story?
- Where does it happen?
Level 2: Grow
- Retell Tolu’s story in three sentences.
- Name the problem and the solution.
- Why retell?
Level 3: Stretch
- Retell a story you know with a problem and solution.
- Why include the problem?
- Kofi leaves out the ending. Is it complete?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Retell a story to a family member.
Show a sample answer
Once upon a time…
Another one. Draw three pictures for a retelling.
Show a sample answer
Pictures for beginning, middle and end.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Include it.
Fix: Choose the key details.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can retell a story in order.
- I can include characters and setting.
- I can tell the problem and solution.
- I can retell with expression.
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
- Retell in your own words.
- Include characters, setting, problem and solution.
- Tell the beginning, middle and end.
- Use expression.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Acting out 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 the problem in Tolu’s story? [1 mark]
- How is the problem solved? [1 mark]
- Retell the story in three parts. [3 marks]
- What should a retelling include? [2 marks]
- Explain why we retell stories. [3 marks]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- a kitten is stuck up a tree [1]
- Tolu climbs and carries it down [1]
- beginning [1]; middle [1]; end [1]
- characters and setting [1]; problem and solution [1]
- show we understand [1]; remember it [1]; share it [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- A problem is something that goes ___.
- A solution is how it is ___.
- The problem: a kitten is stuck up a ___.
- Tolu ___ up to help.
- The kitten ___ at the end.
- A retelling uses your ___ words.
- True or false: retell in order.
- True or false: leave out the ending.
- Retell a story you know.
- Draw the beginning, middle and end.
Homework
Retell a favourite story to a family member.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A problem is something that goes ___. | wrong | 1 |
| 2. A solution is how it is ___. | fixed | 1 |
| 3. The problem: a kitten is stuck up a ___. | tree | 1 |
| 4. Tolu ___ up to help. | climbs | 1 |
| 5. The kitten ___ at the end. | purrs | 1 |
| 6. A retelling uses your ___ words. | own | 1 |
| 7. True or false: retell in order. | true | 1 |
| 8. True or false: leave out the ending. | false | 1 |
| 9. Retell a story you know. | a clear retelling | 1 |
| 10. Draw the beginning, middle and end. | three drawings | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 end; 2 wrong; 3 fixed; 4 Tolu and a kitten; 5 near a tall tree. Level 2: 1 three sentences in order; 2 stuck kitten; Tolu helps; 3 to remember and share. Level 3: 1 a clear retelling; 2 it is the main part of the story; 3 no, add the ending.
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 Retell a story in order | 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 Include characters and setting | 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 Include the main problem and how it ends | 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 Retell with expression | 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: Leaving out the problem. Include it.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use pictures in order.
- 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 retells stories with all their parts. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Ask for retellings.
- Praise detail.
- Let them act it out.
- 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: retell a story in order; include characters and setting; include the main problem and how it ends; retell with expression.
Prerequisite knowledge. Story settings.
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). Retell the Tolu story as a model.
Explanation (10 min). Teach problem and solution.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise retell and record.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners retell to the class.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Who? Where? What was the problem? How was it solved?
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 in order. Extension. Retell with expression.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Leaving out the problem. Include it.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-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 in order. Enrichment. Retell with dialogue and expression. 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.1.2 (retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson) and SL.1.4; Cambridge Primary English Stage 1 (reading and speaking). These sources informed the lesson.