Story Detectives: Finding the Who, Where, and What
Every great story has clues hiding in it, just like a detective case! When you read 'The bear stomped through the dark, snowy forest looking for a warm cave,' you can find three clues right away: WHO (the bear), WHERE (a dark, snowy forest), and WHAT (looking for a warm cave). Today you get to be the detective!
What You'll Learn
- How to spot the WHO (character) in a story - How to spot the WHERE (setting) in a story - How to spot the WHAT (the problem or action) in a story - How to use these three clues to build your own tiny story
Clue #1: WHO Is In the Story?
The WHO is the character -- the person, animal, or creature the story is about. Listen: 'Mia the mouse packed her tiny suitcase.' Who is it? Mia the mouse! Good detectives can always name the WHO in one or two words.
Clue #2: WHERE Does It Happen?
The WHERE is the setting -- the place the story happens. In 'Mia the mouse packed her tiny suitcase inside a cozy treehouse,' the WHERE is the cozy treehouse. Settings can be real places like a school or a beach, or pretend places like a candy castle or the moon.
Clue #3: WHAT Is Happening?
The WHAT is the action or the problem -- what the character is doing or trying to fix. Mia packed her suitcase because she is going on a trip! Every good story has a WHAT that makes you want to keep listening to find out what happens next.
Real authors plant these three clues on purpose, usually in the very first sentence or two, so readers know where they are right away.
In the sentence 'The pirate captain searched the sandy island for buried treasure,' what is the WHERE?
Which question helps you find the WHO in a story?
Match each story clue to its question.
Terms
Definitions
Drag terms onto their definitions, or click a term then click a definition to match.
Build a 3-Clue Story
Draw or write one sentence that has all three clues: a WHO (character), a WHERE (setting), and a WHAT (action or problem). Example starter: 'The ___ (who) was at the ___ (where) trying to ___ (what).' Share your sentence and circle your three clues in different colors.
Next time someone tells you about their day, try to find the WHO, WHERE, and WHAT hiding in what they say!
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