South Dakota ELA 1.RL.3

ELA1st GradeReading Literature

The Standard

Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key ideas and details.

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students describe the people or animals in a story using what they say or do. They name where the story happens and tell the big events using details from the words or pictures.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can describe the wolf in The Three Little Pigs by telling what he does. They can name a place in the story and retell two big events in order.
Common Misconceptions: Students may name a house as a character instead of a place. They may tell events out of order or describe a character without using a story detail.
How to Assess It: After reading The Three Little Pigs, ask: "What is the wolf like? What does he do that shows it? Name one place in the story and two big events in order."

Lesson moves

Give pairs straw, sticks, and paper bricks to build three houses; have them place a wolf cutout where a big event happens.
Ask, "What is the wolf like? Which action makes you say that?" Have partners show the page.
Give groups picture cards of pigs building houses, the wolf at the straw house, and the wolf at the brick house to order.
Show a playground photo and have students name a person, the place, and an action, then find those same parts in the story.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 1.RL.3, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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