Character Clues Teacher Guide Teacher Plan Book Grades K–2 Literacy • 4-Week Unit Arc
Story Detectives: Master Unit Pacing
Teacher: ___________________
Term/Quarter: _______________
Multi-Week Curriculum Scope & Sequence
Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3, RL.1.3, RL.2.3
WEEK 1 CURRENT
Character Clues
Who is in the story? Physical traits, feelings, dialogue & actions.
Anchor: Chrysanthemum
WEEK 2 UPCOMING
Setting Safari
Where and when does it take place? 5 senses, weather & scenery.
Anchor: Where the Wild Things Are
WEEK 3 UPCOMING
Plot Paths
Beginning, middle & end; identifying big story problems.
Anchor: The Three Little Pigs
WEEK 4 UPCOMING
Mystery Solved
How problems are resolved; student storybook authoring celebration.
Anchor: Enemy Pie
Early Learner Literacy Block Architecture (90-Min Master Flow)
Time / Duration
Component
Instructional Focus & Activity
Grouping Mode
8:30 – 8:50 (20m)
Circle Time & Read-Aloud
Teacher interactive read-aloud using anchor text with think-aloud modeling.
Whole Group
8:50 – 9:10 (20m)
Explicit Mini-Lesson
Target skill introduction with slide deck visual cues, choral chants & partner turns.
Whole Group
9:10 – 9:45 (35m)
Guided Small Groups & Centers
Targeted teacher table interventions while students rotate through 3 tactile literacy stations.
Rotations (3x11m)
9:45 – 10:00 (15m)
Synthesis & Detective Share
Student work gallery walk, peer celebrations, and quick exit ticket check.
Whole Group
Developmental Scaffolding
Young learners rely on concrete imagery. Pair abstract character terms (traits, emotions) with gestures, facial expressions, and relatable student analogies.
Multi-Sensory Stations
Include dramatic play costume corners, playdough character sculpting, and decodable name stampers to reinforce phonics alongside narrative comprehension.
Formative Kid-Watching
Track oral storytelling capacity and drawing stamina before insisting on formal writing conventions. Allow dictation for emerging writers.
Story Detectives Elementary Planner • Section 1 of 2 Page 1
WEEK 1 PLANNER Focus: Character Traits & Feelings
Day-by-Day Instructional Grid
5 Days Complete Plan
MON Day 1: Who is in the Story? (People vs. Animals vs. Objects)
Read-Aloud: Knuffle Bunny
Mini-Lesson: Define "character". Show slide deck hook; sort pictures into people, animals, and magical creatures.
Small Group: Guided sorting card game. Identify main character vs. secondary characters in simple fables.
Centers & Work: Character Puppets Center (Popsicle stick puppets); Library corner character hunt.
TUE Day 2: Outside Clues (Physical Appearance & Clothes)
Read-Aloud: No, David!
Mini-Lesson: What can our eyes see? Character hair, clothes, size, and recognizable accessories.
Small Group: "Guess My Character" visual trait riddle cards. Practice descriptive oral vocabulary.
Centers & Work: Playdough character portraits; Fine-motor cutting and pasting character clothes.
WED Day 3: Inside Clues (Feelings & Emotions)
Read-Aloud: The Color Monster
Mini-Lesson: Characters have hearts and minds! Match illustrated facial expressions to emotion words.
Small Group: Emotion mirror drama table. Act out feeling scared, proud, frustrated, or excited.
Centers & Work: Feeling wheel spinning game; Emotion emoji drawing and tracing sheets.
THU Day 4: Actions Speak! (What Characters Do)
Read-Aloud: Peter's Chair
Mini-Lesson: Actions reveal traits (brave, kind, silly). How does Peter show he loves his baby sister?
Small Group: Evidence hunt: Point to the illustration that proves how the character made their choice.
Centers & Work: Introduce Character Clues Activity Sheet . Students begin detective profiling.
FRI Day 5: Detective Showcase & Author's Chair
Celebration & Synthesis
Mini-Lesson: Review outside traits vs. inside traits. Model sharing character profile aloud with poise.
Small Group: 1-on-1 conferencing: Assess student oral sentence fluency and evidence reasoning.
Centers & Work: Author's Chair presentations! Students wear detective badges and share worksheets.
Targeted Tiered Supports
Support (Tier 2/3): Provide pre-cut character emotion cards; allow oral explanation while teacher scribes sentence.Core (Tier 1): Complete detective activity sheet with drawing and 1 full phonetically spelled sentence.Extension: Compare two characters from the same book; add a dialogue speech bubble.
Weekly Observation & Conferencing Notes Handwritten
Story Detectives Elementary Planner • Character Clues Day-by-Day Page 2
Character Clues Slides Story Detectives • Week 1
Grades K–2 Literacy
Character Clues!
Who is in our story? Let’s grab our magnifying glasses and find out!
Today’s Detective Goal: Find out who the character is, how they look, and how they feel!
?
What is a Character?
Story Element Clue
People
Kids, teachers, parents, heroes, and friendly neighbors!
Animals
Puppies, bears, clever foxes, or talking birds!
Make-Believe
Dragons, friendly monsters, toys, and magical robots!
💡 Characters think, feel, talk, and do actions in the story!
1
Outside Clues: What We See!
Physical Traits
Use Your Eyes!
What does the illustrator show us about how the character looks?
Hair color and hairstyle (curly, spiky, long)
Clothing (boots, cape, pajamas, hat)
Size (tiny like a mouse, tall like a giant)
Turn & Talk
Detective Quick Check
Look at our book cover today. What is the very first outside clue you notice about our character?
Share with your carpet partner in 10 seconds!
Outside clues are on the surface • Everyone can see them!
2
Inside Clues: Feelings & Heart!
Emotions & Traits
Happy
Big smile, dancing, laughing out loud
Worried
Hiding, biting nails, wide eyes
Brave
Standing tall, trying hard things
Kind
Helping friends, sharing, comforting
❤️ How can we tell? Listen to their words and watch their face!
★
Your Detective Mission!
Activity Time
Step 1
Pick Your Character
Choose your favorite character from today’s read-aloud storybook.
Step 2
Draw the Portrait
Draw their outside clues inside your official detective frame!
Step 3
Name Their Feeling
Circle their feeling and write a detective sentence with evidence!
Ready Detectives? Get your pencils and activity sheet!
Let’s Begin
Character Clues Activity Sheet Story Detectives • Case #01
Character Case File
Detective Name:
Date:
Story Book Title:
1 Draw Your Character’s Outside Clues
Show their hair, clothes, and special details!
My Character Is:
A Person
An Animal
Big / Tall
Small / Tiny
Inside Feeling:
Happy
Brave
Worried
Curious
2 Detective Evidence Sentence
Finish the sentence using your detective clues!
My character’s name is:
I know they feel this way because:
Detective Self-Check: ☐ Capital letter ☐ Finger spaces ☐ Period at the end .
★ Case Solved! ★
Setting Safari Teacher Guide Teacher Plan Book Grades K–2 Literacy • Week 2 of 4
Setting Safari: Planning Overview
Unit: Story Detectives
Focus: Where & When (Settings)
Weekly Enduring Understanding CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3, RL.1.3, RL.2.7
Stories happen in a specific place (WHERE ) and time (WHEN ). Authors and illustrators use sensory details—sights, sounds, weather, and atmosphere—to transport readers into the world of the characters and influence how the plot unfolds.
Sensory Setting Framework for Young Learners
Sight
Colors, shadows, weather, trees, buildings
Sound
Wind rustling, sirens, waves, birds chirping
Touch
Cold snow, warm sand, sticky mud, raindrops
Smell
Baking pies, salty sea breeze, pine needles
Time
Day, night, long ago, bedtime, winter/summer
Week 2 Hands-On Setting Stations (Rotation Plan)
Station Name
Materials & Sensory Task
Early Childhood Literacy Goal
1. Sensory Bin Safari
Sand, blue gems, plastic trees; students build a story setting habitat.
Oral vocabulary & descriptive adjectives
2. Where & When Sorting
Laminated illustration cards; sort by daytime vs. night, indoors vs. outdoors.
Categorization & visual discrimination
3. Setting Sound Studio
Headphones playing rain, ocean, city sounds; draw what setting you hear.
Auditory imagery & creative representation
4. Teacher Guided Table
Leveled readers; prompt: "Point to the clue that tells what season it is."
Text & picture evidence locating
Quick Observational Formative Rubric (Week 2 Assessment)
Emerging (Level 1) Identifies setting only with direct teacher prompt ("Is it outside?"). Draws simple background.
Proficient (Level 2) Independently states place and time. Draws at least 2 distinct setting clues in activity sheet.
Advanced (Level 3) Explains how the setting causes character feelings or problems (e.g., "The dark woods made him scared").
Story Detectives Elementary Planner • Section 2 of 2 Page 1
WEEK 2 PLANNER Focus: Where & When (Setting Safari)
Day-by-Day Instructional Grid
5 Days Complete Plan
MON Day 1: Where in the World? (Introducing "Setting")
Read-Aloud:
Setting Safari Slides Story Detectives • Week 2
Grades K–2 Literacy
Setting Safari!
Where does the story happen? When does it take place? Let’s explore!
Today’s Safari Goal: Discover the WHERE and WHEN of our story world!
?
What is a Setting?
Story Element Clue
WHERE
The Place in the World!
A School Deep Forest Outer Space
WHEN
The Time and Weather!
Daytime Nighttime Snowy Winter
🗺️ Setting = WHERE + WHEN together!
1
Safari Senses: What Do You Notice?
Sensory Details
Look!
Are there tall trees, big buildings, or starry skies?
Listen!
Do you hear ocean waves, quiet whispers, or car honks?
Feel!
Is it chilly cold, burning hot, or warm and cozy?
Smell!
Fresh flowers, wet rain on pavement, or cookies?
Close your eyes and imagine stepping right inside the story picture!
2
Real or Make-Believe Places?
Explorer Comparison
Real Places
Places that exist in our real world where kids and families can go.
✓ A park with swings and slides
✓ A sunny kitchen with breakfast
✓ A neighborhood library
Make-Believe Worlds
Magical worlds made up from the author’s wonderful imagination!
★ A castle floating in fluffy clouds
★ A chocolate river in candy land
★ An island where monsters dance
✨ Both kinds of settings make stories super exciting!
★
Your Safari Mission!
Activity Time
Step 1
Choose the Place
Where is today’s story happening? Choose the place!
Step 2
Draw the Setting Map
Fill your explorer map with trees, buildings, sun, or stars!
Step 3
Write Your Clue
Write where and when the story happens on your handwriting lines!
Ready Explorers? Grab your Setting Safari map!
Let’s Explore
Setting Safari Activity Sheet Story Detectives • Case #02
Setting Safari Map
Explorer Name:
Date:
Story Book Title:
1 Draw Your Story Setting Map
Draw where the story happens (trees, buildings, weather, sky)!
WHERE is the Story?
Inside a Home
At School
Deep Woods
Make-Believe
WHEN Does it Happen?
Sunny Day
Nighttime
Rain / Snow
Long Ago
2 Explorer Setting Sentence
Write about the place and time using your clues!
The story takes place in:
One clue I see in the picture is:
Explorer Self-Check: ☐ Capital letter ☐ Finger spaces ☐ Period at the end .
★ Safari Explored! ★
