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story-elements-reading-passages-for-1st-grade

Story Elements Reading Passages for First Grade

$5.00

These story elements reading passages help first graders identify and understand characters, setting, problem, and solution. Each passage includes skill based comprehension questions and simple close reading tasks like underlining key text and highlighting vocabulary. Use them during whole group lessons, guided reading, or independent practice to build comprehension.

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Give your students focused, skill based reading comprehension practice with these no-prep story elements reading passages. Perfect for identifying the character, setting, problem, and solution, These 1st grade-friendly texts support close reading and make it easy to target specific comprehension standards.

What’s Included in the Story Elements Reading Passages

  • 20 story elements reading passages
  • 5 passages each for characters, setting, problem, and solution
  • 2 story elements comprehension questions per passage
  • Highlighting and underlining tasks to support close reading
  • Built-in vocabulary and text evidence practice for SOR

How These Reading Passages Help Your Students

Your students will benefit from targeted, skill-based reading instruction that builds strong comprehension strategies. These passages are designed to support close reading, vocabulary growth, and understanding of key story elements. Your students will:

  • Focus on one reading skill at a time (character, setting, problem, solution)
  • Build comprehension with close reading strategies:
  • Highlight unfamiliar words in context to learn new vocabulary
  • Identify and underline key text evidence to support understanding
  • Meet reading standards with skill based questions and tasks

Designed for the Science of Reading and Close Reading Practice

  • Supports vocabulary development by highlighting new and unfamiliar vocabulary words
  • Builds awareness of key details and text structure.
  • Reinforces understanding of story structure by focusing on characters, setting, problem, and solution.
  • Promotes focused comprehension with questions that connect directly to the story’s key elements.
story elements reading passages

No-Prep, Print-and-Go Reading Passages

  • Just print — ready to use immediately
  • Color-code by skill (e.g., blue for characters, green for setting)
  • Easy to organize: use file folders, labeled envelopes, or digital folders
  • Flexible for whole group, centers, early finishers, or review

How to Use These Story Elements Reading Passages

  • Whole-class reading comprehension lesson plans
  • Literacy centers for independent reading practice
  • Weekly close reading lessons
  • Spiral review throughout the year
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Story Elements Comprehension Questions

Each story element (characters, setting, problem, and solution) includes 5 reading passages specifically focused on building comprehension around that element.
story elements reading passages

Character Reading Passages

The Lost Lunchbox
Bella and the Big Slide
Tim’s New Shoes
The Rainy Day Rescue
Jay’s Turn to Share

Sample Character Questions:

  • Who is the main character?
  • What does the character(s) want or need?
  • How does the character change from the beginning to the end?
  • How does the character solve the problem?
  • How does the character feel at the beginning, middle, or end of the story?

Setting Reading Passages​

Winter Morning
Camping With Dad
Rainy Day Shopping
Beach Day
Library Time

Sample Setting Questions:​

  • Where does the story take place?
  • When does the story happen?
  • How do you know where and when the story happens?
  • What words or pictures tell you about the setting?
  • How does the setting change in the story?
story elements reading passages

Problem Reading Passages

Windy Day Trouble
The Broken Pencil
Jayden’s Painting Fix
The Forgotten Homework
Spilled Milk

Sample Problem Questions:

  • What is the problem in the story?
  • What happens that causes a problem for the character?
  • What would the story be like if there wasn’t a problem?
  • What does the character do to try to fix the problem?
  • How does the problem make the character feel?
story elements reading passages
story elements reading passages

Solution Reading Passages

Inside Recess
Ben’s Messy Desk
The Missing Shoe
Lunchtime Trouble
The Lost Bracelet

Sample Solution Questions:

  • How is the problem solved?
  • Who helps fix the problem?
  • What does the character do to solve the problem?
  • What changes after the problem is solved?
  • What lesson does the character learn from solving the problem?

Why Teachers Love These Story Elements Reading Passages

  • No-prep — just print and teach
  • Standards-based (RL.1.1, RL.1.2, RL.1.3, L.1.4)
  • Aligned with the Science of Reading (SOR)
  • Organized by skill — easy to find what you need
  • Saves planning time by matching reading passages to specific comprehension goals
  • Flexible for whole group, centers, early finishers, or review
story elements reading passages

Get Started Today

Download these Story Elements Reading Passages to give your first graders targeted, standards-aligned 1st grade reading comprehension practice.
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story elements reading passages
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(3 customer reviews)

3 reviews for Story Elements Reading Passages for First Grade

  1. Tanya Reed (verified owner) –

    I loved using this in my classroom! It was so helpful!

  2. Lauren Chavez (verified owner) –

    Great for small groups, I love how it only focuses on story elements so my students can concentrate on one skill at a time.

  3. Amber Lawson (verified owner) –

    Perfect for a quick check on comprehension!

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