A New Way to Teach Story Structure for Picture Books
If you have ever seen your students struggle with the Somebody Wanted But So Then story structure tool, you aren't alone. But the problem isn't your students; it is the tool. Not every picture book has a problem. Not every main character wants something. Some stories start with something simply happening, like a snowfall or a new neighbor moving in. When we tell students every story has a problem and a solution, we make reading comprehension harder than it should be.
Here is the approach I use instead, and a free graphic organizer to go with it.
Three Ways a Story Can Begin
Instead of one story formula, I teach students that stories usually start in one of three ways:
The main character wants something. In I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen, a bear wants his hat, and everything that follows comes from that want.
There is a problem. In Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes, Wemberly's worrying about starting school drives the whole story.
An event happens. In The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, it snows, and Peter spends the story exploring it. Nobody has to want or fix anything.
Once students know these three options, they can look at the beginning of any book and decide which one fits. It also takes the pressure off, because they never have to hunt for a problem that doesn't exist.
Endings Aren't One Size Fits All
The ending works the same way. A story might end with the characters getting what they wanted, not getting what they wanted, or with life simply going back to normal. Giving students all three choices makes them think about how the story actually ends, rather than assuming everything gets solved.
What the Story Structure Graphic Organizer Includes
I designed this organizer for students in grades 2 to 5 to summarize any picture book on a single page. It has:
Book title, author, and illustrator
Main character, with one box, since most picture books center on one character
Other characters, so supporting characters have a place to go and don't get listed as main characters
Beginning, with the three story-start choices students can mark
Middle, with open space for students to explain what happens
End, with the three ending choices to mark
Genre, with choices like realistic fiction, fantasy, traditional literature, historical fiction, science fiction, mystery, humor, and adventure
Theme, with choices like friendship, kindness, courage, perseverance, and teamwork
My opinion, with a five-star rating so students can react to the book, not only summarize it
It's laid out with color-coded sections and large, blank writing boxes, because students in these grades vary a lot in handwriting size and need room to write.
Tips for Using the Story Structure Graphic Organizer in Your Classroom
Model it first. Fill out one together using a book everyone knows, and think aloud as you choose a beginning type.
Start with clear examples. Read one book for each beginning type before students try it on their own, so they don't all default to "there is a problem."
Teach theme as a lesson, not a topic. A topic is "friendship." A theme is "true friends help each other." Have students explain the theme in a sentence.
Use the animal rule for genre. If animals talk or act like people, it's fantasy, even when the situation feels realistic, like Frances refusing to eat anything but bread and jam.
Use it all year. The same organizer works for independent reading, read-alouds, and book clubs, so students get faster and more accurate each time.
Download the Organizer
Ready to try it?
It prints on one page (landscape, standard letter size) and works in black and white, though it looks best in color. I'd love to hear how it goes in your classroom, so leave a comment below with your favorite picture book for each beginning type.
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