Story Map Adventures Slides Grade 2 Reading Explorers
Story Elements & Sequence
Story Map Adventures
Become a story detective! Discover Characters, uncover the Setting, and follow the Sequence from start to finish.
Who & Where?
Characters & Setting
What's Wrong?
Problem & Solution
What Happens?
Beginning, Middle, End
The 4 Big Story Clues
What Every Story Needs
1. Characters
WHO is in the story. People, talking animals, or magical creatures!
2. Setting
WHERE and WHEN the story takes place (a sunny backyard, school, deep forest).
3. Problem
The TROUBLE or challenge the characters face that needs fixing.
4. Solution / Resolution
HOW the problem gets solved and how everything ends happily.
💡 Quick Check: Ask yourself: Who is it? Where are they? What went wrong?
Story Sequence: In Order!
Chronological Order
Step 1
Beginning
Introduces the characters and setting. The main problem starts here!
Signal Words: First, Once, At first, In the morning
Step 2
Middle
The characters take action to fix the problem. Exciting events happen!
Signal Words: Next, Then, Suddenly, After that
Step 3
Ending
The problem is solved and we see how the characters feel at the end.
Signal Words: Finally, Last, In the end, At last
🚩 Events must be in order so the story makes sense!
Today's Story Mystery
Reading Mission
📖 Title: Maya and the Lost Blueprint
Clues to Listen For:
• Who is helping Maya build something special?
• Where does the gust of wind blow their secret plan?
• Which furry friend gives them a helpful clue?
🏰 💨 🐾
Our Reading Goal
Read carefully to fill out your Story Map worksheet and track the beginning, middle, and end!
Get your pencils and Story Detective eyes ready! Let's Read Together →
Detective Debrief & Share
Partner Talk
Turn & Talk Prompt #1
"What was the main problem Maya and Sam faced in the story?"
Sentence Frame: "The problem was that..."
Turn & Talk Prompt #2
"What happened right before they finally found the blueprint?"
Sentence Frame: "In the middle, they..."
✨ Super Story Detectives always use text evidence to prove their answers!
Maya Blueprint Worksheet 2nd Grade ELA Story Detectives
Maya and the Lost Blueprint
Name:
Date:
Directions: Read the story carefully. Then use clues from the text to answer the questions below.
On a bright Saturday morning, Maya and her little brother Sam sat on the porch. Maya held a big sheet of blue paper. It was their secret blueprint for building the ultimate cardboard castle in the backyard. "First, we need four tall towers!" Maya cheered.
Suddenly, a giant gust of autumn wind swirled across the lawn. Whoosh! The wind snatched the blueprint right out of Maya's hands and swept it over the wooden fence. "Oh no!" cried Sam. "Our castle plan is gone!" Maya grabbed her magnifying glass. "Don't worry, Sam. We are backyard detectives. We will find it!"
They sprinted through the garden gate. First, they checked under the leafy tomato vines, but they only found green caterpillars. Next, they tiptoed past the old oak tree. Maya’s calico cat, Barnaby, was sitting near the stone birdbath, tapping his paw on something blue. Maya smiled and ran over. Trapped beneath a fallen leaf was their crisp blueprint! Together, Maya and Sam skipped back to the yard and built the grandest fort on the block.
1
Part 1: Story Elements Hunt
1. Who are the main characters in the story? (Choose the best answer)
A) Maya, Sam, and Barnaby
B) A teacher and two builders
C) Two green caterpillars
D) A friendly neighbor
2. Where and when does this story take place? (The Setting)
Where:
When:
3. What is the main problem Maya and Sam must solve?
Page 1 of 2 • Turn page for Sequence & Story Map →
Story Sequence & Graphic Organizer
Maya and the Lost Blueprint
2
Part 2: Sequence of Events
Write the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the boxes to put the story events in order from first to last.
Maya and Sam search under the tomato vines and see caterpillars.
The wind blows the castle blueprint over the wooden fence.
Barnaby the cat taps his paw on the blueprint by the birdbath.
Maya and Sam build the ultimate cardboard castle fort together.
3
Part 3: Story Map (Beginning, Middle, End)
Write one complete sentence in each box describing what happens in each part of the story.
Beginning
Middle
Ending
4
Part 4: Detective Thinking
How did Barnaby the cat help solve the story's problem? Explain in your own words.
Story Map Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide Grade 2 • ELA
Story Map Adventures: Elements & Sequence
Pacing: 45–60 Mins
Focus: RL.2.1, RL.2.3, RL.2.5
Learning Target
Students will identify characters, setting, problem, and solution, and sequence key events (beginning, middle, end) in chronological order.
Essential Question
How do characters, setting, and chronological events work together to build a meaningful story?
Materials Needed
Story Map Slides, Maya Blueprint Worksheets (1 per student), highlighters/pencils, magnifying glasses (optional props).
Lesson Pacing & Guided Procedures
1 Phase 1: Hook & Story Detective Mission (8 Mins) Slides 1–2
Hook: Display Slide 1. Announce that the class is being deputized as "Backyard Story Detectives."Concept Review: Project Slide 2 (The 4 Big Story Clues). Prompt choral chant: "Characters are WHO, Setting is WHERE & WHEN, Problem is the TROUBLE, Solution is HOW it ends!" Kinesthetic Connection: Have students tap their heads for characters, point down for setting, put palms up for problem, and clap for solution.
2 Phase 2: Sequencing & Signal Words (10 Mins) Slide 3
Direct Instruction: Review chronological order. Explain why stories need order: "If we built the castle roof before the walls, what would happen?" Anchor Signal Words: Highlight key transition words: First, Next, Then, Finally . Model identifying them in a quick sample sentence.
3 Phase 3: Shared Reading & Text Annotation (12 Mins) Slide 4 & Page 1
Shared Read: Distribute worksheets. Read "Maya and the Lost Blueprint" aloud with expression. Students track along with pointer fingers.Color-Coding Clues: Guide students to underline the characters in blue, setting in orange, and problem in red directly in the text.
Page 1 of 2 • Turn page for Differentiation & Assessment →
Application, Differentiation & Formative Check
Story Map Adventures Guide
4 Phase 4: Partner & Independent Graphic Organizer (15 Mins) Worksheet Page 2
Students work individually or in detective pairs to sequence the 4 key story events and complete the Beginning-Middle-End Story Map.
Teacher Circulating Prompt: "Show me the sentence in paragraph 3 that proves Barnaby helped find the blueprint."
Story Map Answer Key Teacher Resource Answer Key & Exemplars
Maya Blueprint Worksheet: Key
Story Map Adventures
Grade 2 ELA
1
Part 1: Story Elements Solutions
Question 1 (Characters): A) Maya, Sam, and Barnaby
1 pt
Question 2 (Setting): 2 pts
Where: Backyard / front porch / garden near the oak tree and birdbath.
When: A bright Saturday morning (autumn).
Question 3 (Problem): 1 pt
Acceptable answer: A gust of wind blew their cardboard castle blueprint away over the wooden fence and they had to find it.
2
Part 2: Sequence of Events Key
2 Maya and Sam search under the tomato vines and see caterpillars.
1 The wind blows the castle blueprint over the wooden fence.
3 Barnaby the cat taps his paw on the blueprint by the birdbath.
4 Maya and Sam build the ultimate cardboard castle fort together.
3
Part 3: Story Map Exemplar Sentences
Beginning:
Maya and Sam plan to build a cardboard castle, but the wind blows their blueprint away.
Middle:
They search through the garden and find their cat Barnaby tapping on the lost paper by the birdbath.
Ending:
Maya and Sam get the blueprint back and build the grandest castle fort together.
4
Part 4: Detective Thinking Exemplar
Sample Full-Credit Response:
"Barnaby helped solve the problem because he spotted the blue blueprint under a leaf and tapped it with his paw so Maya could see it."
Common Student Misconception: Students may confuse the setting (where/when) with the plot events . Remind students that setting is like a stage background before the actors start moving.
