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1st Grade Characters and Setting worksheets

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Characters and Setting

Grade 1 Reading Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the answer.

Read this first
Sam's Umbrella
On a rainy morning, gray clouds fill the sky. Raindrops begin to fall on the sidewalk. Sam takes a red umbrella from his backpack. He opens it and holds it high. Puddles form on the path. Sam hops over each one. He does not splash. At the school door, his shoes are still dry. Sam smiles.
1.
Who is the main character in this story?
- his friend
- Sam
- his mom
- his teacher
2.
Where does this story happen?
- a boat
- a kitchen
- a sidewalk
- a garden
3.
What does Sam do in this story?
- paints a picture
- rides a school bus
- walks to school with an umbrella
- plays in a sandbox
4.
Which word best describes Sam?
- sleepy
- ready
- lazy
- silly
5.
Which sentence is true about this story?
- Sam leaves his umbrella at home.
- Sam's shoes are soaking wet.
- Sam splashes in every puddle.
- Sam takes a red umbrella from his backpack.
6.
Which sentence is also true about this story?
- Sam splashes in every puddle.
- Sam's shoes are soaking wet.
- Sam leaves his umbrella at home.
- Sam does not splash in the puddles.
7.
Which sentence is NOT true about this story?
- Sam hops over each one.
- Sam takes a red umbrella from his backpack.
- Sam does not splash in the puddles.
- Sam splashes in every puddle.
8.
When does this story happen?
- a rainy morning
- a snowy night
- bedtime
- a hot day
9.
Which of these happens last?
- Sam hops over each one.
- Sam splashes in every puddle.
- At the school door, his shoes are still dry.
- Raindrops begin to fall on the sidewalk.
10.
Which of these happens first?
- Sam leaves his umbrella at home.
- Sam hops over each one.
- At the school door, his shoes are still dry.
- Raindrops begin to fall on the sidewalk.

1st Grade Characters and Setting worksheet 1 – printable PDF — Download PDF: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Characters are the people, animals, or sometimes objects a story is about, while the setting tells where and when events happen. First graders often name anything visible in a picture as a character or repeat one place word without checking the text. This worksheet teaches them to return to a short story and gather exact evidence. The questions rotate among naming the central character, locating the setting, identifying an important action, choosing a trait supported by what the character does, and noticing true details from the text.

Every story is printed once above the questions that use it, so a child never has to guess about a story they cannot see. Support practice uses the shortest, plainest stories in the pool. Standard and challenge versions move to longer stories with more to track. Ask your child to underline the who words once and the where words twice before answering. That simple habit separates two story elements that are easy to mix up.

What your child will learn

Identify a story character
Name where a story happens
Connect an action to a character
Use actions to describe a character

Common Core standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3

Worked example

'Mia packs an apple at the kitchen table.' Mia is the character, and the kitchen is the setting.

Common mistake

Naming a small object from the story as the main character instead of asking who does the action.

Helpful hint

Find who does something, then look for words that tell where it happens.

Next skill: Beginning, Middle, and End Earlier: Grade 1 Sight Words

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with characters and setting?

Naming a small object from the story as the main character instead of asking who does the action.

How can I help my child with characters and setting?

Find who does something, then look for words that tell where it happens.

Are these 1st grade reading worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

More 1st grade literature

See all literature

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