ELA.5.R.1.1

Analyze how setting, events, conflict, and characterization contribute to the plot in a literary text.
General Information
Subject Area: English Language Arts (B.E.S.T.)
Grade: 5
Strand: Reading
Date Adopted or Revised: 08/20
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5010030: Functional Basic Skills in Communications-Elementary (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
5010046: Language Arts - Grade Five (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
7710016: Access Language Arts - Grade 5 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
5010024: Basic Skills in Reading 3-5 (Specifically in versions: 2021 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
5010105: Introduction to Debate Grade 5 (Specifically in versions: 2020 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
5010016: English for Speakers of Other Languages Grade 5 (Specifically in versions: 2022 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
ELA.5.R.1.AP.1: Explain how setting, events, conflict and characterization contribute to the plot in a literary text.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

A Lesson about Setting:

This lesson will ask students to read an excerpt from Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. In the targeted passage the students will determine how the description of the setting helps the reader better understand the novel's plot. Students will have opportunities to respond to and discuss, open-ended questions about the characters and the setting.

Type: Lesson Plan

Characterization in Bud, Not Buddy:

In this lesson, students will read an excertpt from Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis to analyze story elements and examine characters' actions and motivations.

Type: Lesson Plan

Superhero Narratives:

Students create narratives inspired by comic strips. The narratives include all elements of the comic strip including the beginning, rising action, climax, falling action, and ending. Students provide feedback to one another using a rubric to improve their writing. They will also discuss how the setting, characters, characterization, and conflict contribute to the plot of the narrative.

Type: Lesson Plan

Superhero Comic Strips:

This is lesson 2 in a series of 3 lessons where students create comic strips using superhero characters. Students plan their comic strips and analyze the importance of setting, characterization, and conflict to the development of the prompt. Students work together to revise their plans and create comic strips that include multimedia elements.

Type: Lesson Plan

Pourquoi Challenge:

During this lesson, students will learn about analyzing literary elements to see how they contribute to the plot and explaining themes of a text through Pourquoi tales. Students will identify these elements and use them to explain the development of themes in Pourquoi tales. Students will use their understanding of these elements to write their own narrative tale.

Type: Lesson Plan

Story Super Sleuths:

Fifth grade students will be challenged to become super sleuths, or investigators, to describe plot development in depth, with a focus on characters in terms of stated and implied character traits. They will use "investigative strategies" to explore characterization and the setting, events, and conflict of the story to explain how each contributes to its plot. They will do this exploration first as a group and then independently.

Type: Lesson Plan

Novel Study-Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan:

After reading the novel Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, students will analyze the perspective of Esperanza while looking at important characterization features and other parts of the plot development. Students will create a narrative writing piece from the perspective of Esperanza based on the characterization features discussed.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fantastic Fable for Teamwork:

In this lesson, students will read and analyze the literary elements of the Aesop fable “The Four Oxen and the Lion” and discuss how they contribute to the plot. Students will then explain the development of the theme(s) of the fable based on their analysis of the literary elements. Students will discuss their findings in whole-and small-group settings. The lesson will culminate in an argumentative essay in which students answer the question: "Why didn't the oxen work together and how could they have changed their behavior to do so?"

Type: Lesson Plan

Comparing/Contrasting Character Traits and the Approaches to Two Themes:

In this lesson, students will compare and contrast literary elements of two literary texts "The Enchanted Sticks" and "The Story of Wang Li." They will use the literary elements of each text to determine the development of each theme. Students will then research stories that have similar themes to the ones they’ve discussed in the lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

Esperanza Rising Chapters 1 and 2:

This lesson focuses on reading Chapters 1 and 2 of the book Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. Students will analyze how the literary elements contribute to the story’s plot and describe how Esperanza’s perspective is developed throughout the story’s beginning. Students will summarize the important parts of the beginning of the story to show their understanding of the plot.

Type: Lesson Plan

Student Center Activities

Comprehension: Character Connections:

In this activity, students will identify similarities and differences between characters. As an extension activity, students will compare the perspectives of two characters. Graphic organizers are provided for character analysis and comparisons.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Character Consideration:

In this activity, students will describe characters using a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Check-A-Trait:

In this activity, students will identify similarities and differences between characters' traits (as determined by actions, thoughts, and feelings).

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Retell Recap:

In this activity, students will retell or summarize a story.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Retell Review:

In this activity, students will retell or summarize a story.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Side-by-Side Stories:

In this activity, students will identify similarities and differences between stories and record them on a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Story Element Ease:

In this activity, students will identify and sort story elements (character, setting, problem, solution, theme, plot). They will then compare and contrast the elements of different stories.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Story Mapping:

In this activity, students will identify story elements (character, setting, events, problem, solution) and record them in a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Unit/Lesson Sequences

"The Wizard of Oz" 5th Grade Unit:

This is a fifth grade unit on the novel The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The unit explores fantasy fiction, setting, effects of character decisions, plot, conflict, and theme. The student packet that accompanies the unit includes graphic organizers and worksheets to assist with reinforcing the unit concepts.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

"Dogs Don't Tell Jokes" 5th Grade Unit:

This is a fifth grade novel unit on Dogs Don't Tell Jokes by Louis Sachar. A variety of concepts are explored throughout the unit, including genre, characters, relationships, prediction, textual evidence, plot conflict, and theme. The student packet provides graphic organizers and worksheets that can assist with implementing the unit concepts.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Riding Freedom 5th Grade Unit:

This is a fifth grade unit on the historical fiction novel Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan. Several concepts regarding the novel are explored, including genre, setting, real-world connections, and effects of a character's past. The student packet and accompanying materials provide ample opportunities for practice.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 5th Grade Unit:

This is a fifth grade novel unit on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The unit incorporates instruction relating to the novel's setting, characters, plot, and theme - as well as the basic elements of fantasy fiction. The student packet that accompanies the unit provides some additional structure for the lesson content.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Maniac Magee 5th Grade Unit:

This is a fifth grade unit on the novel Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli. Graphic organizers, charts, comprehension and vocabulary worksheets, and authentic collaborative activities are used to enhance interaction with the novel. Several concepts are pursued, including theme, conflict, relationships, plot, and characters.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Parent Resources

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