Grade
Skill/Strategy:
4
Unit
4
Week
5
Plot/Prior Knowledge
Essential Questions: How can I identify the plot and the type of conflict?
Review:
A plot, or underlying story structure, is found only in fiction. A plot begins when a character has a
problem or conflict. The problem builds up during the rising action, is met directly at the climax or
turning point, and comes to an end, as the action winds down, during the resolution.
Good readers use their prior knowledge as they read. They ask themselves, "What do I
already know about what is happening in this story?" You can use things you already know to help
you understand the events in the rising action and the climax.
Reading Street, Grade 5, Unit 4, p. 488.
Part A: Introduce/reteach Plot
(used for part A and part B).
Materials: copy the Plot Diagram on both sides of a paper for each student
Create a diagram showing what a plot is. You can use the diagram below or go to the website below:
Interactive Plot Diagram:
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/plot-diagram-30040.html?tab=4#tabs
There is another Plot Diagram attached as a pdf file as well as an excellent, very short PowerPoint
that introduces the graphic organizer. The PowerPoint can also be found under Resources at
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/plot-structure-literary-elements-904.html
from readwritethink.org
Demonstrate identifying the elements of plot with a well-known tale such as the Three Little Pigs. (see below)
Three little pigs left home. Built houses, it was hard. Wolf goes to first pig’s home, blows it down, eats the
pig. Wolf goes to 2nd pig’s home, blows it down, eats the pig. Wolf goes to 3rd little pig’s home, tries to blow
it down, gives up and leaves. The pigs celebrate.
Part B – Identifying Elements of Plot
Materials: On My Own story
Practice finding the plot elements in the following short story. Students should work with a partner to complete
a GO and then discuss and summarize it when they are finished.
On My Own
I searched for my mom’s bright red car. Big, wet drops splattered around me. Luckily, my mom
had made me bring my umbrella.
I finally spotted my mom parked on the corner. I rushed over and got inside. The warmth from the
heater felt heavenly.
“Hi, Caroline,” my mom said. “How was your day?”
“Boring,” I answered.
“Aw, I’m sorry to hear that. I think your day will be getting a bit more interesting, though. How do
you feel about staying home by yourself?”
That got my attention. “What do you mean?”
“Two people called in sick today, so I have to go back and work for a couple of more hours. I think
you’re old enough now to be in charge. What do you think?”
“Awesome!” I said. I had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
“Okay. I’ll be home at 6:00 p.m. Now, you know the rules. Don’t open the door or pick up the
phone unless it’s me. You can watch television for an hour, but then, I want you to start on your
homework. You can eat no more than—”
“Three cookies,” I finished. “I know, Mom!” I was tired of being told what to do. We arrived at the
house, and after letting me in and smothering me with kisses and more rules, my mom was gone.
I immediately went to the cupboard and grabbed the box of cookies. How would my mom know if I
ate more than three? I plopped in front of the television and ate the whole box.
As I popped the last cookie in my mouth, I felt a weird feeling in my stomach. It felt like the cookies
were punching to get out. I lay down on the couch and groaned. I should have listened to my mom
and just eaten three. I guess there are rules for a reason . . . .
Questions
1. What is Caroline's conflict in the story?
Caroline has a conflict with her mother in the story. She is tired of her mother telling her what
to do.
2. How is Caroline's conflict resolved?
She learns that there are rules for a reason.
3. What is the plot of the story?
Caroline’s mom has to work late, so Caroline stays at home by herself for the first time. Her
mom tells her to follow the rules, but Caroline is tired of being told what to do. She breaks the
rules and gets sick from eating too many cookies. She learns that there are rules for a reason.
**Notice that the plot describes the events in the order that they happen.**
Part C: Types of Conflict
Materials: Types of conflict chart
Explain the common different types of conflict, using the pictures to help students remember. Discuss some common
stories and decide what the conflict is and what type of conflict that would be. Explain that stories can often have more
than one conflict, but there is usually one that is prominent. I just brainstormed a few examples for each category, and
some of them are quite debatable. Feel free to change these or add more…
Types of Conflict:
Types of Conflict
conflict – the problem or struggle between two forces in a narrative
Type of Conflict
Character vs. Character – this
includes groups as characters
Real-Life Examples
Eagles vs. Steelers, two friends
having a disagreement on the
playground, two countries at
war, police catching a crook
Earthquake, tornado, flood,
environmental issues
Story Examples
Three Little Pigs, Little Red
Riding Hood, Star Wars, Home
Alone, Sleeping Beauty
Character vs. Society
Poverty, excluding people,
slavery, being different, bullying
Character vs. Self
Making a decision, growing up,
learning how to make friends,
working towards a goal
Abiyoyo, WALL-E, Romeo and
Juliet, Avatar, Cinderella, Little
Mermaid
Lord of the Rings, Marven in the
Great North Woods, Seeker of
Knowledge, Polar Express,
Miss Rumphius, Rainbow Fish
Character vs. Nature
Great Kapok Tree, The
Stranger
Part D: There are a few story examples included for further practice in identifying story plot.
Types of Conflict
conflict – the problem or struggle between two forces in a narrative
Type of Conflict
Character vs. Character
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Self
Real-Life Examples
Story Examples
On My Own
from studyisland.com
I searched for my mom’s bright red car. Big, wet drops splattered
around me. Luckily, my mom had made me bring my umbrella.
I finally spotted my mom parked on the corner. I rushed over and got
inside. The warmth from the heater felt heavenly.
“Hi, Caroline,” my mom said. “How was your day?”
“Boring,” I answered.
“Aw, I’m sorry to hear that. I think your day will be getting a bit more
interesting, though. How do you feel about staying home by yourself?”
That got my attention. “What do you mean?”
“Two people called in sick today, so I have to go back and work for a
couple of more hours. I think you’re old enough now to be in charge. What do you think?”
“Awesome!” I said. I had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
“Okay. I’ll be home at 6:00 p.m. Now, you know the rules. Don’t open the door or pick up the
phone unless it’s me. You can watch television for an hour, but then, I want you to start on your
homework. You can eat no more than—”
“Three cookies,” I finished. “I know, Mom!” I was tired of being told what to do. We arrived at the
house, and after letting me in and smothering me with kisses and more rules, my mom was gone.
I immediately went to the cupboard and grabbed the box of cookies. How would my mom know if I
ate more than three? I plopped in front of the television and ate the whole box.
As I popped the last cookie in my mouth, I felt a weird feeling in my stomach. It felt like the cookies
were punching to get out. I lay down on the couch and groaned. I should have listened to my mom
and just eaten three. I guess there are rules for a reason . . . .
Name: _______________________________________________
Company’s Coming by Arthur Yorinks
___The FBI zoomed into the house with guns
and weapons.
___Shirley invited the aliens to dinner.
___Everyone had a delicious meal.
___Shirley opened the gift. It was a blender!
___The FBI surrounded the house.
___Shirley let the little men into the house to
use the bathroom.
Main conflict
___The men from outer space returned.
___They gave Shirley and Moe a box.
___The spacemen left.
___Moe and Shirley invited their cousins over
for dinner.
___A flying saucer landed in Shirley and Moe’s
yard.
___Moe called the FBI.
Type of conflict
________________________
How do you know?
Climax/turning point
Resolution
Company’s Coming by Arthur Yorinks
The FBI zoomed into the house with guns and weapons.
Shirley invited the aliens to dinner.
Everyone had a delicious meal.
Shirley opened the gift. It was a blender!
The FBI surrounded the house.
Shirley let the little men into the house to use the
bathroom.
The men from outer space returned.
They gave Shirley and Moe a box.
The spacemen left.
Moe and Shirley invited their cousins over for dinner.
A flying saucer landed in Shirley and Moe’s yard.
Moe called the FBI.
Name: _______________________________________________
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
___A jaguar growled in the man’s ear.
___The man smelled the flowers
___A man points at a Kapok tree.
___Porcupines tell the man about the need
___A child asked the man to look again.
___The man chops the tree with his ax.
___The man walked out of the forest.
___The man woke to a forest of animals.
___The tree frog worried about becoming
homeless.
for oxygen.
___The man grew tired.
___The monkeys came down from the
canopy.
___The man looked at the animals.
___The snake talked about his ancestors.
___Two men walk into the forest
Main conflict
Type of conflict
__________________
How do you know?
Climax/turning point
Resolution
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
A jaguar growled in the man’s ear.
A man points at a Kapok tree.
A child asked the man to look again.
The man chops the tree with his ax.
The man walked out of the forest.
The man woke to a forest of animals.
The tree frog worried about becoming homeless.
The man smelled the flowers.
Porcupines tell the man about the need for oxygen.
The man grew tired.
The monkeys came down from the canopy.
The man looked at the animals.
The snake talked about his ancestors.
Two men walk into the forest.
Name: _______________________________________________
Silly Goose by Jack Kent
___Fox finds out that Goose is right
___Fox noticed it was afternoon, not
morning.
___Goose and Fox were jogging in the
woods.
___Fox got snatched up by an eagle.
___Fox gets eaten by an alligator.
___Goose covers Fox with leaves.
___Goose startled the eagle and he dropped
the fox.
___Goose warned Fox about a crocodile.
___A tree fell on Fox.
___Goose doesn’t have time to think of the
___Fox insists that Goose say the right
word.
___Goose dug under the tree to free Fox.
Main conflict
word.
___Goose tickled the animal’s nose to make
it sneeze.
Type of conflict
__________________
How do you know?
Climax/turning point
Resolution
Silly Goose by Jack Kent
Fox finds out that Goose is right.
Fox noticed it was afternoon, not morning.
Fox gets eaten by an alligator.
Goose covers Fox with leaves.
Goose warned Fox about a crocodile.
Goose doesn’t have time to think of the word.
Goose dug under the tree to free Fox.
Goose and Fox were jogging in the woods.
Fox got snatched up by an eagle.
Goose startled the eagle and he dropped the fox.
A tree fell on Fox.
Fox insists that Goose say the right word.
Goose tickled the animal’s nose to make it sneeze.
.
Name: _______________________________________________
Abiyoyo adapted by Pete Seeger
___The boy and his father woke up.
___One day, people saw Abiyoyo coming over
the horizon.
___The boy’s father made Abiyoyo
disappear.
___Everyone wanted the boy and his father
to come back to town
___People said a giant called Abiyoyo could
eat people up.
___The boy and his father started to play a
song.
___Abiyoyo ate the sheep and walked
toward the town.
___The boy’s father annoyed everyone by
making things disappear.
___The people told the boy and his father
to leave town.
___The boy annoyed everyone with
ukulele.
___Abiyoyo started to dance.
___The giant danced so fast that he fell
over.
___People told stories of giants that lived in
the old days.
Main conflict
Type of conflict
__________________
How do you know?
Climax/turning point
Resolution
Abiyoyo adapted by Pete Seeger
The boy and his father woke up.
One day, people saw Abiyoyo coming over the horizon.
The boy’s father made Abiyoyo disappear.
The boy and his father started to play a song.
The boy’s father annoyed everyone by making things
disappear.
The people told the boy and his father to leave town.
Everyone wanted the boy and his father to come back to
town
People said a giant called Abiyoyo could eat people up.
Abiyoyo ate the sheep and walked toward the town.
The boy annoyed everyone with his ukulele.
Abiyoyo started to dance.
The giant danced so fast that he fell over.
People told stories of giants that lived in the old days.
Group directions:
1. Read the story.
2. Put the events in order.
3. Find the conflict and resolution.
4. Find the climax or turning point.
5. Decide what type of conflict this is and why you think so.
Group directions:
1. Read the story.
2. Put the events in order.
3. Find the conflict and resolution.
4. Find the climax or turning point.
5. Decide what type of conflict this is and why you think so.
Group directions:
1. Read the story.
2. Put the events in order.
3. Find the conflict and resolution.
4. Find the climax or turning point.
5. Decide what type of conflict this is and why you think so.
Name TEACHER
Date _____________ Title:
The Three Little Pigs
.
PLOT DIAGRAM
Climax:The wolf tried to blow
Climax:
Clima
down the 3rd little pig’s house!
Falling Action:
Rising Action:
The pigs built
houses, but the
wolf came by!
CONFLICT
He blew down the
first two houses!
He can’t blow the
house down.
He climbs up to the
roof.
He tries to come
down the chimney.
Beginning:
Resolution:
The three little pigs left their
mother and set out on their
own.
The wolf is burned in the hot
water and runs away, never
to be seen again.
Name _______________________________ Date _____________ Title: ______________________________________
PLOT DIAGRAM
Climax:
Falling Action:
Rising Action:
Beginning:
Resolution: