Hannah Boeger & Jazmine Lopez
Literary Element: Setting
Definition: The setting of a story, poem or play is the TIME & PLACE of the action.
Setting Includes:
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Specific geographic location
Seasons
Time of Day
General references to past, present, future
Historical Era
Culture
Social/ Emotional dimension
Mood and Atmosphere
Descriptions of the setting engage the reader
by creating a vivid mental picture of the
characters’ location in space and time.
Sample Mini-lesson Ideas:
Teaching Idea #1
• Text: The Cats in Krasinski Square
• Critical Question: What is atmosphere? Why is it important to develop atmosphere in my writing?
• Atmosphere: The overall emotional feeling created by the details the author uses. Atmosphere is
created through descriptions of SETTING, characters and events.
• Read story. Ask students to identify what words and phrases provided helpful descriptors of the setting/
atmosphere.
• Word Cloud graphic organizer
• Students in pairs come up with an alternate setting
Teaching Idea #2
• Text: Crow Call: Lois Lowry
• Students discuss the relationship between setting and the experiences of the main characters
• Students consider the setting and its appeal to the 5 senses
• Graphic Organizer
Hannah Boeger & Jazmine Lopez
#3 Painting with Words
• Paint chips to help students create vivid descriptions
in their writing
• Great for ESL
Teaching Idea #4
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Text: Owl Moon: Jane Yolen
Guide Students to add sensory details to enhance the setting in their personal narratives
Students discuss how the author’s descriptive language helps them to connect with the text
Use the book to spark inquiry about owls
Titles that explore setting:
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The Cats of Krasinski Square: Karen Hesse
Crow Call: Louis Lowry
Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights: Debbie S. Miller
Coming on Home Soon: Jacqueline Woodson
The Lotus Seed: Sherry Garland
Night of the Gargoyles: Eve Bunting
Dandelions: Eve Bunting
Owl Moon: Jane Yolen
Saturdays and Teacakes: Lester Laminack
The days grow shorter, but there is still no darkness. The sun just hides a little longer below the
northern horizon. Sunset colors linger until the sun rises again and follows a circular path around
the top of the spinning world.
- From Artic Lights, Artic Nights (page 6)