Here are some fun new ways to teach story elements using hands on materials! Keeping students engaged, excited about learning, and giving students the means to show evidence to support their answers is sometimes a struggle, but not with these materials.
I started off my lesson using the Sequencing Story Cards for a review. After discussing the beginning, middle, and end of our basal story, I paired up students to complete the story cards. I wanted students to have hands on experience with sequencing a story and talking about it! Many of my students are ESL and the visuals helped each student be successful. This was a great way to not only get in a sequencing activity, but also to practice listening and speaking skills. We didn't have time to write about our picture cards, but this would be a great extension to complete in black and white draw composition journals. 
Next, I introduced the Show Me The Story Element Reading Tabs. Students were put into pairs and given a tab for a character, setting, problem and solution. Partners discussed what each element was. The tabs are very sturdy and come in an easy-to-use storage box. 
During guided reading groups, students used the tabs to find each element in their leveled book. I love that the tabs can either point directly at a word or it can underline a certain section. I found the tabs extremely helpful as we were having our book discussion. Students were easily able to find the correct tab, turn to the page, and provide evidence to their answers! 
We then transferred our information to a story map. I wrote each section in the same color of the tabs to help my ESL students be able to make a connection between the story element tabs and the anchor chart.
