Story maps use graphic organizers to help students learn the elements of a book or story. The most basic story maps focus on the beginning, middle, and end of the story. More advanced organizers focus more on plot or character traits.
Story Maps
| When to use: |  Before reading |
 During reading |
After reading |
| How to use: | Individually |
With small groups |
Whole class setting |
What is a story map?
A story map is a graphic organizer that helps students learn the elements of a narrative. Learning to identify a story’s characters, plot, setting, problem, and solution prompts students to read carefully to learn the important details. There are many different types of story maps. The most basic ones focus on the beginning, middle, and end of the story while more sophisticated organizers focus more on story elements like plot, character development, or theme.
Why use story maps?
- They improve students' comprehension of narrative text.
- They provide students with a framework for identifying the elements of a story.
- They help students of varying ability capture and organize information and ideas efficiently.
- They help students develop a deeper understanding of how stories work that can be applied to other texts and content areas.
How to use story maps
- Define and discuss the components of a story (e.g., characters, setting, plot and theme or beginning, middle, end) using a familiar story as an example
- After a whole-class read-aloud of a story, complete a story map on chart paper with input from students
- If students will story maps individually, provide each student with a blank story map organizer and have them complete their own copies as you co-construct the larger version.
- Once students understand how to construct story maps, they can complete story maps as they read or, after reading, they can fill in any missing parts.
Download simple story map templates (beginning–middle–end)
Download more complex story map templates (characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution
Watch a demonstration: mini-lesson in story mapping
The teacher completes a story map for “The Three Little Pigs” step-by-step, explaining each narrative element.
Watch a classroom lesson: narrative text retelling (grade 1, whole-class)
As part of a lesson on retelling, the teacher completes a story map for “Butterfly’s Life,” a narrative nonfiction text, with input from students.
Watch a classroom lesson: The Hen and the Apple Tree (grade 2, whole-class)
Following a whole-class read-aloud of The Hen and the Apple Tree, the teacher completes a story map with input from students to help them identify the moral of the story (beginning at 12:07).
Collect resources
Download simple story map templates (beginning–middle–end)
Download more complex story map templates (characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution
Differentiate instruction
For English-learners, readers of different ability levels, or students needing extra support:
- Scaffold your instruction by providing prompts for each section on your map. For example, in the "Beginning" box of your map, use prompts such as: Who are the main characters? Where does the story take place? You can write in these prompts before printing or making copies of a story map intended for students to fill out independently.
- Differentiate by providing less complex story map templates — the beginning-middle-end format is the simplest — for those working to grasp the basics of stories and other, more complex maps, with students ready to engage in more complex work.
- Model this strategy using a book with very clear components to help students understand each component.
- Have the students complete story maps in pairs, being sure to partner a reader or writer who needs extra support with one who has more skill. Partners can also fill out a story map together after a Paired Reading activity.
Extend the learning
This chart shows how the story mapping strategy can be used in language arts, history, and science. See cross-disciplinary story mapping chart ›
Writing
Students can extend their understanding of story maps into their own writing. Students can use story maps to plan, summarize, and write their own main ideas, characters, setting, and plot for a story. Find more ideas for using graphic organizers to support writing ›
Language Arts
This story map example demonstrates how story maps are used with an Arthur story. Students identify the setting, characters, the problem, and the solution in the story.
Math
Story maps can be used to help students solve open-ended math problems or create their own math problems. This work helps students break down problems into smaller sections in order to understand what is being asked.
Social Studies
Using the format of the story map, students can create their own map by taking a walk around the playground or school. Encourage students to include positional words in their story map writing.
Related strategies
Learn more about strengthening reading comprehension in our self-paced module Reading 101: Comprehension.
See the research that supports this strategy
Adler, C. (2004). Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text Comprehension.
Armbruster, B. B., Lehr, F., & Osborn, J. (2001) Put reading first: The research building blocks for teaching children to read kindergarten through grade three. Washington, DC: The U.S. Department of Education.
Boulineau, T., Fore, C, Hagan-Burke, S. and Burke, M. (2004). Use of Story-Mapping to Increase the Story-Grammar Text Comprehension of Elementary Students with Learning Disabilities. Learning Disability Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 2 (Spring, 2004), pp. 105-121
Nell K. Duke, P. David Pearson, Stephanie L. Strachan, and Alison K. Billman (2011) Essential Elements of Fostering and Teaching Reading Comprehension. From What Research Has to Say About Reading Instruction (4th ed.), International Reading Association.
Nell K. Duke, Alessandra E. Ward, and P. David Pearson (2021). The Science of Reading Comprehension Instruction, The Reading Teacher, Vol 74, No. 6 (May-June 2021).
Dunst, C, Simkus, A, Hamby, D. (2012). Children's Story Retelling as a Literacy and Language Enhancement Strategy. CELLreviews 5(4). Asheville, NC: Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute, Center for Early Literacy Learning.
Santa, C., Havens, L., & Valdes, B. (2004). Project CRISS: Creating independence through student owned strategies 3rd Edition. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
Timothy Shanahan et al., Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (2010). U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences.
Trabasso, T., & Bouchard, E. (2002) Teaching readers how to comprehend text strategically. In C. Block and M. Pressley, (Eds.) Comprehension instruction: Research-based practices (pp. 176-200). NY: Guilford Press.
Children's books to use with this strategy
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
This inventive telling of a familiar tale will enchant readers, young and old.
Red Riding Hood
Marshall's humorous illustrations add personality and action to familiar tales.
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
The "real" story started when Alexander Wolf sneezed when he tried to borrow a cup of sugar from his neighbor in the straw house.
Comments
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Graphic organizers help students to understand what they read.
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I took the story mapping and simplified it for a kindergarten cooperative learning lesson. After reading a story and discussing the story elements, I split the students into groups and assign each group a story element- characters, setting , problems , and solutions. Each group has a leader and they draw and write in a circle map the components of the story they are assigned. Each student shares with the class the part they contributed. We have a class made rubric to follow to make sure the pictures and writing are from the text. Then we post the maps in the classroom and they write from those maps the rest of the week.
Research shows that graphic organizers help students understand what they read. They also help students at all levels write about what they read and write original stories. A sequence graphic organizer, for example, gives students a guide or blueprint on which to outline their ideas. With that as a starting point, students can begin to write and tell their stories
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