Retelling Rope
Use the rope with any story. Jot a few key words at each knot. Then hold the rope and retell the story out loud, one knot at a time.
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How to do it
- Write the title of any story or book.
- Jot a few key words at each knot.
- Retell the story out loud, one knot at a time.
Teaching tip
Run your finger down the rope while retelling. Each knot is a reminder of what comes next. This sheet is aligned with Common Core SL.4.4.
About this worksheet
A rope with five knots for characters, setting, the problem, the events and the ending, plus a detail to add. Works with any story.
What kids practice
Retelling means telling the important parts of a story in order, in your own words. By 4th grade, a good retell does more than list what happened. It names who the story is about, where it happens and the problem, tells the important events in order and explains how it ended. It also adds a few details, like how a character felt, something someone said or what they could see or hear, so the listener can picture it. These sheets are about telling a story out loud, clearly and in order.
Watch for
- Telling every little thing instead of the important parts.
- Leaving out the problem or the ending.
- Telling events out of order, or jumping back with "Oh, and before that..."
- Retelling in a flat list with no details, so the listener can't picture it.
- Reading the story word for word instead of using their own words.
It's free to print, as many copies as you need. See the full retelling with detail guide for 4th grade.
More sheets in this set
- See it all
1. Retelling ChartThe parts of a retell (beginning, middle and end), order words, three kinds of details with examples, and tips for telling it well. 
2. Story MapA short story with a story map for who, where, the problem, five events, the ending and a detail. New sheet changes the story, and the answer key shows example answers.
3. Order the Events, Then RetellA short story, five mixed-up events to number in order and a quick checklist for retelling it out loud. Includes an answer key.
4. Add a DetailPlain sentences to build up with a feeling, something someone said or a sense detail. Fewer has 3, Standard has 4 and More has 5. The answer key shows one example for each.
6. Stories to RetellTwo short stories per page, each with a checklist for a partner to mark while you retell. New sheet changes the stories.
7. Retell a Book or MovieA planner for retelling any book, movie or show, with lines for the beginning, middle and end and three details to add.
8. Partner Retell ChecklistA listener's checklist for the beginning, middle, end, details and how the story was told, with two columns for a first and second try.