Story Clues Slide Deck Reading Case File #104
Grade 4 • Reading Power
Comprehension Mission
Story Clue Detectives
Be a reading detective! Spot key clues, retell the adventure, and crack the mystery.
1
Find the 5 Clues
2
Retell the Tale
3
Hunt for Evidence
The 5 Story Clues
Every good story has these 5 parts!
Who
Characters
Who is in the story?
Where
Setting
When and where is it?
Problem
What went wrong?
The big challenge
Events
Action steps
What do they do?
Solution
Case Solved!
How did it end?
💡 Tip: Remember Characters, Setting, Problem, Events, and Solution!
Clue Words Warm-Up
Power words in today's mystery
🪨
fossil
The hard shape of an old plant or bone left in rock long ago.
"The rock had a fish fossil inside."
🌊
creek
A small, shallow river of flowing fresh water.
"We walked by the cool creek."
🔍
ridge
A long, narrow chain of hills or high ground.
"The trail climbed up the steep ridge."
Sound it out, tap it out, or spot the base word!
PART 1
The Muddy Creek Trail
Stop & Check Strategy
1 Leo and his golden dog, Dash, ran to Red Creek.
2 The sun was hot on the rocky trail.
3 Dash stopped fast. He dug into a pile of wet gray mud.
4 "What did you spot, Dash?" asked Leo.
Detective Clue Check
Who is here?
Leo and his dog Dash
Where are they?
Red Creek on a rocky trail
Take a breath! You decoded Part 1. Now let's see what Dash dug up!
PART 2
The Secret Mark
Problem & Solution
5 Dash scraped at a flat, heavy rock stuck deep in the dirt.
6 Leo pulled with both hands, but it would not budge.
7 Leo picked up a thick stick and gently wedged it under the stone.
8 Pop! The rock flipped over. A giant leaf pattern was carved right into it!
Cracking the Case
What was the problem?
The heavy stone was stuck.
How did Leo fix it?
He wedged a thick stick under it.
Awesome work! Leo solved his problem using a stick as a tool.
How to Retell a Story
The 3-Step Train
STEP 1 🌱
Beginning
Tell who the characters are and where the adventure starts.
"First, Leo and Dash went to Red Creek..."
STEP 2 ⚡
Middle
Tell what trouble happened and what they tried to do.
"Next, Dash dug up a rock, but it was stuck tight..."
STEP 3 🏆
Ending
Tell how the problem got fixed and how the story finished.
"Finally, Leo used a stick to pop the rock over and found a fossil!"
Use transition words: First, Next, Then, and Finally!
Text Evidence Detective
Prove your answer!
Question Clue
How did Leo flip the heavy rock over?
A. He called a park ranger for help.
B. He wedged a thick stick under it.
C. He kicked it down the trail.
Look Back at Line 7:
"Leo picked up a thick stick and gently wedged it under the stone."
🎯 Real detectives always find text evidence to prove their claim!
Golden Rule: When you answer a question, point your finger right at the clue words in the text!
Case Solved!
Ready for Solo Detective Work
You Have the Clues!
Now grab your Case File Worksheet. Re-read the passage, fill in your 5 Clues Map, and crack every question!
1. Spot Characters
2. Map the Problem
3. Prove with Evidence
Fossil Clues Reading Passage Detective Case File #104 • Reading Passage Level: Guided Reading
The Mystery of Ridge Creek
Name: Date:
🪨
fos•sil
An old plant or bone shape pressed in rock.
🌊
creek
A cool, shallow stream of rushing water.
🪵
wedged
Pushed firmly into a tight space.
Part 1: Setting Out
1Leo and his golden dog, Dash, trotted up the dirt trail.
2The summer sun was high over Ridge Creek. The air
3smelled of pine trees and wet mud. Dash loved to run
4ahead and sniff every twist in the windy path.
Part 2: The Strange Mud
5Suddenly, Dash froze. His ears stood straight up.
6He dropped his nose down and dug fast into the gravel.
7"Woof!" Dash barked, pawing at a flat gray rock.
8Leo knelt down. The rock was wedged tight in the bank.
9Leo pulled hard with both hands, but it would not budge.
Part 3: The Secret Clue
10Leo looked around the bank. He found a thick oak branch.
11He pressed the branch under the edge and pushed with all
12his might. Pop! The stone flipped over into the water.
13Leo wiped the wet sand away. Carved in the rock was
14the perfect shape of an ancient fern leaf!
15"Dash, you found a real fossil!" Leo cheered.
Stop & Jot 1
Who and where are the characters?
Stop & Jot 2
What problem did Leo face in line 9?
Stop & Jot 3
What surprise was carved in the rock?
Detective Strategy: Use a ruler, finger, or reading strip to track each line smoothly.
Case Clue: 15 Lines • Decodable Level 2
Case File Retell Worksheet Detective Case File #104 • Comprehension Report Story Map & Evidence
Story Map Case File
Detective Name: Date:
Part 1
The 5 Clues Story Map
(Write words or draw a picture in each case box)
1. Characters: Who is in the case?
2. Setting: Where and when is it?
3. Problem: What challenge or obstacle did they face?
4. Action: What did Leo try to do?
5. Solution: How was the problem solved?
Part 2
Evidence Hunt Questions
1. What made Dash stop and start digging in the gravel? (Look back at lines 5–7)
A He saw a swimming fish.
B He pawed at a flat rock.
C He chased a pine cone.
2. Order of Events: Write 1, 2, and 3 in the circles to show what happened first, next, and last.
Leo found a thick oak branch and wedged it under the rock.
Dash ran ahead and dug into the wet mud by Ridge Creek.
Leo wiped wet sand away and cheered at the ancient fern fossil.
3. How did Leo solve his problem? Point to clue words in lines 10–12 to explain.
Detective Case Completed Total Evidence Score: _____ / 8 Clues
Story Detectives Teacher Guide Intervention & Facilitation Guide • Dyslexia Support Grade 4 (Instructional Level: Gr. 2)
Story Detectives: Teacher Guide & Key
Focus: Structured Retell & Evidence
Dyslexia Accommodations & Cognitive Load Principles
1. Oracy First: Have the student verbally retell each chunk before writing. Drawing or bullet keywords are fully acceptable in the Story Map. 2. Line Tracking: Have the student use an index card or reading strip under each line to prevent visual crowding and line-skipping. 3. Evidence Highlighting: Encourage the student to use a highlighter or finger to locate the specific line number before answering questions.
Step-by-Step Pacing (30–40 Minutes Total)
1. Clue Words Warm-Up (5 min) Slides 1–3
Introduce power words: fossil, creek, wedged . Tap out syllables (fos•sil = 2 beats). Connect meaning with visual photos/icons.
💬 Prompt: "What do you think Leo and Dash might discover along a creek?"
2. Guided Chunked Read (12 min) Passage & Slides 4–5
Use echo reading or partner reading for each 4-line chunk. Stop at the margin "Stop & Jot" boxes. Check understanding before decoding fatigue sets in.
💬 Prompt: "Line 8 says the rock was wedged. What made it so tough to move?"
3. 5-Clues Story Map (10 min) Slide 6 & Worksheet
Guide student to fill the 5 boxes: Who, Where, Problem, Action, Solution. Use transition words: First, Next, Then, Finally .
💬 Tip: Student can dictate while you scribe, or draw quick sketches.
4. Evidence Hunt & Check (8 min) Slide 7 & Worksheet
Model the "Look Back" strategy. Student points their finger directly at the line number in the passage that proves each answer before writing.
💬 Rule: "Real detectives never guess—they prove it with the text!"
Worksheet Answer Key & Scoring Guide
Part 1: Story Map Expected Responses
Characters: Leo and his dog Dash.Setting: Ridge Creek / trail on a hot summer day.Problem: Dash found a rock stuck/wedged in the mud that Leo couldn't pull out with his hands.Action: Leo found a thick oak branch and wedged it under the rock.Solution: The rock popped over; they discovered a prehistoric fern leaf fossil!
Part 2: Evidence Questions
1. Multiple Choice: Choice B (He pawed at a flat rock — text evidence lines 6–7).
