How To Use Them + Free Printable

A story map is a graphic organizer with space for students to record information from a story. They may record the beginning, middle, and end of what happens in The Three Little Pigs, or they may record the details and themes as they read Because of Winn-Dixie. Whatever the story, students are thinking through how the author organizes information to tell a story and communicate a message.

We’ve created six different story maps that will take students from a basic understanding of stories (beginning, middle, end) to a complex understanding of how chapters come together to organize a full story. Just fill out the form on this landing page to grab them for free.

Why should I use story maps?

Story maps teach story grammar or the elements of narrative. Each story map will have, in some way, space to record the events in the story, characters, setting, problem, and solution. Story maps may also include space to reflect on the theme or message of the story. They help students identify the most important information from a story and keep their ideas organized.

Story maps are an important part of reading comprehension. They:

Improve students’ understanding of narrative
Help students focus on important information
Use information from a story in discussion
Help students understand how stories work so they can write their own narratives

How do I use story maps?

Story maps have a place in reading instruction starting in kindergarten. To move students to independent analysis:

Model story maps during read-aloud.
Show students how to complete the story map using a read-aloud.
Choose a text that is similar to the read-aloud in terms of structure. For example, if you model with The Three Little Pigs, choose a similar story, like The Three Billy Goats Gruff, for students’ first independent practice.
Provide story maps for students to use during independent practice or assignments.

Story Map Bundle

Our six printable story maps help students pull important information from stories that range from simple to complex.

Printable story map template worksheet. — Myranda McDonald; We Are Teachers

Beginning, Middle, End

This is a student’s first story map. It includes space to write and draw the beginning, middle, and end of a story. This story map is perfect for read-alouds, picture books, and easy readers.

First, Next, Then, Last

This story map takes retelling to the next level with more focused story words (first, next, then, last). Use this once students have mastered the Beginning, Middle, End map and are ready to add more plot events to their outline.

Story Frame

A story frame is a graphic organizer with questions to ask as you read through a story. This story map helps students think about what is happening in the story and anticipate what to look for next. It’s also a great way to introduce and practice questioning, another important reading comprehension strategy.

Printable 5Ws story map. — Myranda McDonald; We Are Teachers

5 Ws Organizer

Another question-based graphic organizer, the 5 Ws story map has space for students to answer the basic questions from any story: Who is in it? What happened? Where did it happen? When did it happen? Why did it happen? Or why did the author tell the story? A 5 Ws graphic organizer is more open-ended than a story frame, so you can incorporate more story-specific questions into it as you teach.

Story Roller Coaster

The tried-and-true story map, with the problem, rising action, climax, and resolution. This is a great graphic organizer to use with students as they work through more complex stories and plotlines.