plot's peak, level 1

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All teaching guides can be found online.

Plot’s Peak, Level 1Congratulations on your purchase of the Really Good Literacy Center-in-a-Bag™ Plot’s Peak, Level 1, a valuable plot-diagram activity. Meeting Common Core State StandardsReally Good Stuff Plot’s Peak, Level 1 aligns with the following English Language Arts Standards:Craft & StructureAnchor Standard 5 Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.RL.2.5 Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.RL.3.5 Refer to parts of stories, dramas, and poems when writing or speaking about a text.

This Really Good Stuff product includes:• 5Two-Sided Story Cards• 40Arrow Labels• 25Story Part Cards• 50Blank Story Part Cards• 1Plot Diagram Folder Mat• 2Two-Sided Answer Key Cards• 1Center Task Card • This Really Good Stuff Teaching Guide

Story structure is a fairly simple concept, but recognizing the parts of a story takes practice. At earlier levels of literacy, stories have very obvious climactic moments. As students encounter more complex stories, they need to practice and refine this skill.

Managing the Center-in-a-Bag• VisitourWebsitewww.reallygoodstuff.comtodownload

Really Good Stuff Teaching Guides.• Studentsworkwithonematching-coloredset(e.g.,blue Story Card, Story Part Cards, and Answer Key) at a time. If there is time they switch to another color.• MakecopiesofthePlot’s Peak Reproducibles to provide

further practice.• DisplaytheCenter Task Card.• DemonstratehowtotidytheCenter when the activity is complete.• Storethecentermaterialsinthebag,andhangitalongside

other Centers-in-a-Bag.

Introducing Plot’s Peak Practice analyzing story structure using a plot diagram, which is a metaphorical visual aid. Discuss the parts of a story, starting with climax. Like the hill depicted in the plot diagram, a story has a peak, or highest point. The climax is the most exciting or important part of a story. The climax might be the moment in which a problem or conflict in the story is at its

height. In some stories, the climax is a moment in which tension is finally released or a big change occurs, affecting characters’ situations. Often, the climax takes place near the end of a story; sometimes it is closer to the middle. Students might benefit from identifying a story’s climax before its other parts.

The exposition is at the beginning of the story. Exposition means showing. The author is showing who the characters are and providing background and setting for the story.The part of a story that builds up to the climax is the rising action. The characters are becoming more developed. Like the bicyclists in the graphic, the reader experiences building excitement or tension. Often, the rising action is a problem starting to present itself. At this point, an involved reader will start to think about where the story is going and how resolution may be found. Similarly, falling action is the part in which the climax has taken place and other aspects of the story are being worked out. The resolution is the ending. Moststoriesendpeacefully,eveniftheendingisnotahappyone. At this point, the author has provided a rounded set of events, and characters have been fully developed. In many stories’ resolutions, the characters and/or the reader has been presented with a lesson or set of lessons.

Modeltheactivityforthestudents. They will first select and read a Story Card and think about which part of the story is the climax. The student places the Climax Arrow Label on this part of the Story Card. The labels help the student keep track of the story parts.

Next, the student thinks about which parts of the story are the exposition, rising action, falling action, and resolution, then places Arrow Labels on the story parts. Next, the student reads the Story Part Cards and places them on the Plot Diagram

Climax


Plot’s Peak, Level 1Folder Mat in the labeled spaces on the mat, using his or her Arrow Labels as a guide.

Variation 1Remove some or all of the printed Story Part Cards. Challenge the student to find and record the story parts on the Blank Story Part Cards in his or her own words.

Variation 2Use the other side of the Plot Diagram Folder Mat for students who are studying beginning, middle, and end. Have the student use the matching Beginning, Middle, and End Arrow Labels and Answer Key Cards.

The student checks the placement of cards, using the answer key, and makes any necessary corrections. (Or the player rewrites any story parts that were incorrectly recorded on the Blank Story Cards.)

For additional practice, have students complete one of the Plot’s Peak Reproducibles. Using a pencil, they fill in story parts that they identify in their reading.

Center Task CardPost this at the literacy center in a visible position. A student or a helper can refer to the Center Task Card for instructions. Refer to the shaded section at the top of the card for center preparation, including needed materials.

Really Good Literacy Center-in-a-BagPlot’s Peak, Level 1

1studentObject: Show how each part of a story builds on earlier partsMaterials: one Story Card and matching-colored Story Part Cards, Arrow Labels, Plot Diagram Folder Mat (front or back), Answer Key Card, Blank Cards and pencil (optional)

Directions:1. ReadtheStory Card.2.Thinkaboutwhichpartofthestoryistheclimax(or

middle). Place the Climax (or Middle) Arrow Label on this part of the Story Card.

3. Think about which parts of the story are the exposition, rising action, falling action, and resolution (or beginning and end). Place these Arrow Labels on the story parts.

4.ReadtheStory Part Cards. Place them on the Plot Diagram Folder Mat in the labeled spaces on the mat, using your Arrow Labels as a guide.

5.Checkyourworkusingtheanswerkey.MoveanyStory Part Cards that were incorrectly placed.

Variation:SetasidesomeoftheStory Part Cards before the activity. Identify the story parts on your own, then write them on the Blank Cards.

Related Really Good Stuff ProductsPlot’sPeak,Level2(#305971)ReadingComprehensionFlipChart(#304362)

Variation 1: Blank Story Part Cards

Variation 2: Beginning, Middle, End


Plot’s Peak Beginning, Middle, End Reproducible

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Plot’s Peak Climax Reproducible

plot's peak, level 1

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