The setting of a story is the location and time, or the where and when. Settings often play a crucial role almost as if they are another character in the book, as is the case in the book Three Times Lucky. Mo LoBeau lives in the sleepy town of Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, which has a population of 148. Everyone knows everyone and nobody can do anything without the entire town hearing about it. When the small town experiences an unsolved mystery, Mo is on the case! There are different parts of the small town that act as possible clues in the case. In this activity, students will map the different settings in the book, including illustrations to support their answers.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard identifying the different settings in the book Three Times Lucky.
Student Instructions:
Invite students to share how the setting influences characters’ choices and story events. Use targeted questions to help them connect details from the setting to plot developments, deepening their reading comprehension.
Divide your class into groups and assign each a different location from the book. Have them analyze clues, describe the mood, and present how their setting impacts the mystery, promoting collaboration and critical thinking.
Guide students to imagine being in Tupelo Landing and write short passages using all five senses. This helps them visualize the setting and supports richer, more descriptive writing skills.
Ask students to compare Tupelo Landing to their own hometowns or neighborhoods. Lead a discussion or writing activity that relates book settings to familiar places, making the lesson personally meaningful.
The setting of Three Times Lucky is the small, close-knit town of Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, where everyone knows each other and unexpected mysteries unfold.
The setting shapes the story by creating a tight community where secrets are hard to keep, making the mystery more intriguing and involving all the unique townspeople in the plot.
Key locations include the Colonel’s café, Mo’s home, the school, and various spots around Tupelo Landing that serve as clues in the mystery, all of which are great for illustrating on a setting map.
Students can make a setting map by identifying main locations in the story, drawing or using images for each, and writing brief descriptions that explain their importance to the plot.
The setting acts almost like a character because the town’s atmosphere, gossip, and close relationships directly impact the story’s events and the actions of Mo and other residents.