Students even in upper elementary often struggle with plot elements and plot structure. With the right tools and strategies, understanding and identifying plot structure can become easier for students. Here are 5 fun and engaging ways to teach plot structure in your upper elementary reading classroom.
Ways to Teach Plot Structure: Use Engaging Read Alouds
Using mentor texts to teach plot structure can be beneficial to students. Reading mentor texts aloud allows students to see plot elements in action. Thinking aloud as you read the text to your students helps them to understand your thought processes and allows them to identify key elements in the text.
Choose texts with clear and distinct plot points. A few of my favorites include anything written by Patricia Polacco, Amelia’s Road by Linda Jacobs Altman, Verdi by Janell Canon, Saturday and Teacakes by Lester Laminack, and Someday a Tree by Eve Bunting. There are many great choices for teaching plot, and this is a perfect opportunity for you to choose one of your favorite read-alouds. Using read alouds is one of my favorite ways to teach plot structure.
My Plot Packet also includes a short read-aloud along with a lesson plan to make your teaching life easier.
Break it Down with Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers such as story maps and plot diagrams help students visually break down a story’s structure. Students may fill in plot diagrams as they read independently or in small groups. They can summarize each part of the plot in their own words. Using graphic organizers is one of the most effective ways to teach plot structure and to provide students with practice with this skill.
My Plot Packet contains plot diagram graphic organizers that can be used over and over throughout the year to help your students identify the plot in a variety of stories and books.
Build a Plot Mountain Anchor Chart
Using an image of a mountain helps students visualize the journey of a story, from the introduction of the story, to the rising action, to the peak of the most exciting part, and down to the resolution. It is an effective way to illustrate the progressive structure of a narrative.
Together, you can create a large mountain-shaped anchor chart as a class, labeling the exposition, the rising action, the climax at the peak, the falling action, and the resolution at the base of the mountain on the other side. As you read a story, pause to discuss and fill in each part with a summary of the events. This visual tool helps students understand how the plot builds and resolves much like climbing a mountain.
My Plot Packet includes a fun and colorful plot mountain anchor chart that is ready to print and go. You can use this as you teach plot and for students to use as a reference throughout the school year.
Practice Plot Analysis with Short Passages
Using shorter passages for students to practice identifying plot elements may be less intimidating for students and allows for focused practice. My Plot Packet contains a variety of passages specifically designed for practicing plot analysis.
Make Plot Structure Interactive with a Fun Flipbook
Hands-on activities like creating a plot mountain flipbook can make plot elements more enjoyable and memorable for students. Have students create a flipbook that highlights each part of the plot. Students can draw, write, and illustrate key events from the story they have read.
My ready-made mountain flipbook in my Plot Packet will save you time and engage your students in a fun and memorable activity about the plot.
Understanding plot structure can help improve students’ overall comprehension and understanding of a story. Be sure to check out my Plot Packet filled with easy-to-use resources including lesson plans, graphic organizers, reading passages designed for identifying plot elements, and a fun flipbook activity that you and your students are sure to love.
For more on using story maps in your reading classroom, check out this blog post here.
