Visual Lesson
Story Map
Every story has four parts. Read a short story, then tap to reveal its characters, setting, problem, and solution.
Mia’s Sunflower
Story 1 of 6
Tap the story to hear it, then tap each part of the map below.
👥 Characters — who the story is about.
🏞️ Setting — where and when it happens.
❗ Problem — what goes wrong or what they want.
✅ Solution — how the problem gets solved.
What is a story map?
A story map is a simple picture of a story’s four building blocks — the characters, the setting, the problem, and the solution. Naming these parts helps young readers understand what they read, retell it in their own words, and later plan stories of their own.
How to use it
- Read the short story at the top — or tap it to hear it read aloud.
- Tap each card to reveal that part of the story and hear the answer.
- Tap “Reveal all” to open the whole map at once.
- Tap the Next button for a new story, and try to spot the four parts yourself first.
The four parts of every story
- 👥 Characters — the people or animals the story is about.
- 🏞️ Setting — where and when the story happens.
- ❗ Problem — what goes wrong, or what a character wants.
- ✅ Solution — how the problem is finally solved.
Why it helps
Breaking a story into parts turns reading into something a child can hold onto. Kids who can find the problem and solution understand more of what they read, retell stories more clearly, and write stronger stories because they know what every good story needs.
Good for
Kindergarten through 5th grade (roughly ages 5–11) — early reading comprehension, story retelling, and beginning story writing. The stories are short, warm, and kind.
Bring it to a lesson
These tools pair with the full curriculum — guided lessons that teach each concept, then send you here to see it and practice.