Beginning, Middle, and End: How a Story Is Built
Every story you love has three big parts. First, the story starts and we meet the characters. That is the beginning. Then a problem or a big thing happens. That is the middle. Then the problem gets fixed. That is the end. Once you know these three parts, you can tell any story yourself!
What You'll Learn
- The three parts of a story: beginning, middle, and end - What happens in each part - How to put mixed-up story parts in the right order
The Beginning
The beginning is where the story starts. We meet the characters, the people or animals in the story. We also see the setting, which is where and when it happens. In 'The Three Little Pigs,' the beginning is when we meet the three pigs and they build their houses of straw, sticks, and bricks.
The Middle
The middle is where the big problem happens. This is the exciting part! In 'The Three Little Pigs,' the middle is when the big bad wolf comes. He huffs and puffs and blows down the straw house and the stick house. Uh oh! The pigs run to the brick house.
The End
The end is where the problem gets fixed. The story wraps up. In 'The Three Little Pigs,' the end is when the strong brick house keeps the wolf out, and the wolf gives up and runs away. The pigs are safe. The end!
Beginning, middle, end. Say it like a song! Almost every story you read or tell has all three parts, in that order.
Match what happens to the right story part.
Terms
Definitions
Drag terms onto their definitions, or click a term then click a definition to match.
In which part of a story do we FIRST meet the characters?
The wolf huffs and blows the houses down. Which part of the story is this?
Draw Your Favorite Story in Three Boxes
Fold a paper into three boxes and label them Beginning, Middle, and End. Pick a story you love. In the first box, draw who you meet at the start. In the middle box, draw the big problem. In the last box, draw how it gets fixed. Then tell your story out loud, pointing to each box as you go!
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