Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Literature: Constructing Plot
This site has an explanation of the elements of a plot with clear examples. Click on "What goes into plot" for more information.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Complication
Notes that introduce complication in plot and show examples of how the conflict becomes more complicated throughout the rising action of a story. Examples are provided from Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and Virginia Woolf's "The Duchess and...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: What Got Stolen?
After reading Grandpa's Teeth by Rod Clement, the writer will plan a scene from a story where a character confronts another character about something that has been stolen. Descriptive details need to take precedence in this scene, as...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Rolling With the Animals
After reading Duck on a Bike by David Shannon, the writer will plan an original story where an animal (other than a duck) finds itself in a human mode of transportation (other than a bike). Three other animals will react to the unusual...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Denouement
Notes introducing denouement and providing plot diagrams and examples of denouement in three classical texts: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, "Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka, and "The Duchess and the Jeweler" by...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Empowered Fiction Writers: Generating and Organizing Ideas
Do your young scholars' minds go blank when they confront a blank piece of paper? Speedwriting can help them get started with writing as well as come up with topics to write about. They can then incorporate their key ideas and phrases...
Other
Kim's Korner: Graphic Organizers for Writing and Reading
What are graphic organizers for reading and writing? Use this site to learn more about these learning tools.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Narrative Pyramid
A printable narrative pyramid where students can record information about a story including the character, setting, problem, main events, and solution. Directions on how to use this type of graphic organize as well as lists of teaching...
National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts: The Big Read: Wolff: Old School
Guide to Tobias Wolff's Old School, with historical information, author biographies, discussion questions, and a ten-lesson unit of study including activities, writing exercises, project ideas, and essay topics. A radio show, with...
Other
Story Arts: Storytelling Activities & Plot Structure Scenarios
This collection of storytelling activities-developed by storyteller/author Heather Forest for her storytelling workshops with students, teachers, and librarians-can be expanded by educators into language arts lesson plans to support...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Story Writing With Arthur
This series of 12 downloadable activities teach students some basics of story writing, using books or videos from the PBS "Arthur" series as a springboard. Activities include creating story maps, asking questions about characters and...
British Council
British Council: Learn English Kids: Voyage of the Animal Orchestra
Use this story of the shipwrecked animals in the orchestra to focus on plot, characters, and sequence of a story. Included are assessment activities and flash cards.
Read Works
Read Works: Theme 3rd Grade Unit
[Free Registration/Login Required] This site provides a series of three lesson plans designed to teach students to identify and support the theme of a fable and a fiction selection based on main idea and supporting details. Lessons are...
![Glencoe Literature Library: "Brothers Karamazov" Study Guide [Pdf] Unit Plan](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/369915-0054d56929c4a5fc43246b63fc4b548b.jpg?1661498565 "Glencoe Literature Library: \"Brothers Karamazov\" Study Guide [Pdf] Unit Plan")
McGraw Hill
Glencoe Literature Library: "Brothers Karamazov" Study Guide [Pdf]
Use this study guide to enhance your understanding and exploration of Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel, "The Brothers Karamazov." Prepare for the text with an author biography, vocabulary lists, and pre-reading activities. While reading,...
Penguin Publishing
Penguin Random House: "The Time Machine" Teacher Guide [Pdf]
Teacher guide for "The Time Machine" includes chapter-by-chapter plot summaries, pre-reading journal ideas, vocabulary studies, study questions, discussion topics, figurative language, character studies, themes, and reading strategies.
Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Structure Within a Story
Learn why structure is important when organizing a story then read an excerpt from the story "Three over Four" to practice how structure helps to develop the story's theme, setting, and plot.
Other
Comic Master: Graphic Novel Creator
This site allows students to create their own comic strips. Students will pick the characters, write their own dialogue, and develop a plot. Students can click and hear music as they are creating their comic strips. This site is...
Yale University
Yale University: Elements of the Short Story
This unit from the Yale University on elements of the short story is designed to develop student comprehension skills, particularly making inferences and generalizing. It also involves students in reading a number of short stories to...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Houghton Mifflin Books: Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg
This comprehensive teacher's guide for the book "Zathura" by Chris Van Allsburg provides us with an opportunity to examine how writers blend scientific information with a fictional story.
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Classroom Strategies: Story Maps
Story Maps are used for teaching students to work with story structure for better comprehension. This technique uses visual representations to help students organize important elements of a story. Students learn to summarize the main...
![Glencoe Literature Library: "Heart of Darkness" and "The Secret Sharer" [Pdf] Unit Plan](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/103595-009a02cc7b112d1df55997380011c618.jpg?1661498485 "Glencoe Literature Library: \"Heart of Darkness\" and \"The Secret Sharer\" [Pdf] Unit Plan")
McGraw Hill
Glencoe Literature Library: "Heart of Darkness" and "The Secret Sharer" [Pdf]
Explore Joseph Conrad's novella, "Heart of Darkness," and his short story, "The Secret Sharer," with the help of this study guide. It provides pre-reading material (author biography, vocabulary, introductory article), reading activities,...
![Glencoe Literature Library: "Shiloh" Study Guide [Pdf] Unit Plan](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/103578-b8ba4ad1fc971cf557c00bd6390df93e.jpg?1661498447 "Glencoe Literature Library: \"Shiloh\" Study Guide [Pdf] Unit Plan")
McGraw Hill
Glencoe Literature Library: "Shiloh" Study Guide [Pdf]
Explore Phyllis Reynold Naylor's "Shiloh" with the help of this study guide, which provides pre-reading material (author biography, vocabulary, introductory article), reading activities, brainstorming ideas, and thought-provoking writing...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Step by Step
In this activity, students take distance readings as they walk in front of a CBR. They apply the properties of a linear function to develop a model for the motion and interpret the values used in the model. Students learn to graph...
SparkNotes
Spark Notes: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Read a Plot Overview of the entire book of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. Also provided are links to character lists, main ideas, quotes, and writing help.