Printable Retelling Stories Student Workbook

A teacher has created this printable mini-book to allow students to show what they know about the different elements of retelling a story. This is the perfect resource to use at a checkpoint throughout your retelling stories unit of work to gather information about what your students may need extra assistance with. The activity book includes the following activities:

1. Identifying the different elements of a good retell. 
2. Illustrate and describe the characters in a story. 
3. Illustrate and respond to the following questions: Where did the story occur? When did the story take place?
4. Illustrate and describe the beginning and circle words to use to describe the beginning.
5. Illustrate and describe the middle of the story.
6. Retell the end of the story and describe how the problem was solved and how the characters were different at the end.
7. A self-rating page where students rate themselves and how they think they are progressing with their retelling skills.

What Are Good Children’s Books for Retelling?

Here is a suggested list of simple children’s books that are often used when learning the characteristics of retelling:

• “Chrysanthemum” by Kevin Henkes
• “Duck for President” by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
• “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andrease
• “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson

Teaching Retell Enhances Comprehension

Teaching your students how to retell a story successfully requires your students to engage with the material actively. By retelling a story or text, they must understand the content well enough to accurately extract and convey its key points. This only deepens their comprehension skills.

Retelling a story can also develop your students’ vocabulary and language skills as they are encouraged to use their words to convey information.

Download and Create Today!

Use the dropdown menu to choose between the PDF or editable Google Slide version of this resource.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Retelling Activities

We’re here to help you cut down your lesson planning with these super curriculum-aligned retelling resources:

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5 Finger Retell Worksheets

Guide your students through using the 5 finger retell strategy with this set of worksheets.

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Robot-Themed Retelling Writing Template

Explore the elements of a retell with this cute robot-themed retell writing template.

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5 Finger Retell Classroom Posters

Guide students through the 5 finger retell process with this set of classroom posters and individual student guide.