Story Structure: Beginning, Middle, End
To develop understanding of story structure through sequencing, mapping, and retelling activities.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Literacy
- Learning area: Literacy
- Level: EYFS 3-4
Objectives
- Sequences three story events
- Uses beginning/middle/end language
- Plans stories orally
- Retells known stories with structure
Materials
- Story sequence cards for familiar books
- Blank story map templates
- Beginning-middle-end sorting boards
- Retelling prompts
Instructions
After reading a story well-known to the children, introduce the concept: 'Every story has three parts. The BEGINNING tells us who and where. The MIDDLE is where something happens or goes wrong. The END is how it all worked out.'
Use story sequence cards (three or four pictures from the story). Mix them up: 'These pictures are from our story but they're all muddled. Can you put them in the right order? What happened first?'
Create a simple story map together: draw a house at the start (beginning), a path in the middle (middle), and another house at the end (resolution). 'Where does the story start? What happens along the way? How does it end?'
Retell together using the prompts: 'At the beginning... In the middle... At the end...' These connectives scaffold children's retelling and will eventually appear in their writing.
Apply to children's own stories: 'Tell me your story. What happens at the beginning? What's in the middle — what's the exciting bit? What happens at the end?' Help them plan orally before recording in any way.
Celebrate stories with strong structure: 'Your story has a beginning, a middle, and an end — just like a real book! You're a real author.' This builds identity as a storyteller.