Lesson: Story Elements (Plot) Subject Area: Language Arts

I. Standard: R.NT.01.03 Identify problem/solution, sequence of events, and sense of story (beginning, middle, and end). II. Objective/Benchmark: The students will discover what plot is and why it is important to a story. *I can describe what plot means and why it is important to a story. The student will demonstrate their understanding of sequence of events by placing the events of the story in the correct order. *I can place the events of the story in order and describe how I knew that event came next. III. Anticipatory Set: Have the students come and sit in the meeting area ready to learn. Tell the students we are going to be learning about a new story element today. Ask them do you remember any of the story elements we have talked about? (Character, setting, problem, and resolution) Well today we are going to learn about the story element called plot. Plot is very important to a story because it is all of the events that make up a story. These events are placed in sequence which means an order by the author. This order is really important because it helps the story make sense and gives the story meaning. IV. Input: Have the students come and sit in the meeting place ready to learn. Tell them we are going to be learning a new story element today. Ask them if they remember any of the story elements we have talked about. (character, setting, problem, and resolution) Today we are going to learn about the story element called plot. Tell them that plot is very important to a story because it is all of the events that make up a story. These events are placed in a sequence which means an order by the author. This order is really important because it helps the story make sense and gives the story meaning. Today we are going to read a book called Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion. Play Harry the Dirty Dog. Now we are going to work on putting the events of Harry the Dirty Dog in the correct sequence. Pull sticks for students to come up and place the events in order on the SMART board activity. Discuss how the students knew that was the correct next event.

Would it make sense if ____ event came before it? Does the order of our event make sense? Does the sequence of events help us put meaning to the book? Once all 8 events are in order review what plot means by calling on a student. Ask does the order of the events matter when talking about the plot of a book? Tell the students that they will now write a sentence about what plot means to them. Have them quietly get up and return to their seats where they will fill out the exit sheet with their sentence. Have them turn in the exit sheet when they are complete.

Thinking Levels: Remembering: Name the story elements that we have learned about (character, setting, problem, and resolution). Understanding: Explain what each story element means. Applying: Place the events in the correct sequence from the story. Analyzing: Would it make sense if _____ event came before this one? Does the order the events make sense? Does the sequence of events help us put meaning to the book? Evaluating: How did you know that was the correct next event? Creating: Write one sentence that describes what a plot of a story means to you. Learning Styles and/or Accommodations: Learning Styles: Auditory, visual, kinesthetic, written When it is time for the students to write their sentence, students who are struggling can be helped with coming up with ideas based off of the lesson. Students who finish quickly can be challenge to add more to their sentences to help the reader know exactly what plot mean. Materials: SMART board exit sheet pencil internet Methods: Discuss what story elements they have learned about and then what plot means. Watch video of Harry the Dirty Dog Demonstrate how the activity works and the goal by showing them the first event.

Students work as a class by having one student at a time place the next event in the correct spot. Individually write what plot means as exit slip.

V. Modeling: Explain to the student that their goal is to place the events from Harry the Dirty Dog in the correct sequence. Show them that if the event is in the wrong place it will move back to the top, but if it is in the correct place it will stay. Explain that if an event moves back up to the top that means there is an event that happens before that particular one so they need to keep looking for the correct next event to create the correct sequence. VI. Checking for Understanding: Check for understanding by asking the students questions as they place the events in the correct places. Check for understanding that they realize order is important to plot because it provides meaning. VII. Guided Practice: Have the students complete the SMART board activity as a class with individual students coming up to place the next event in order. Ask questions as the students come up to place the next event in sequence. VIII. Independent Practice: Have the students write one sentence describing their understanding of what plot is and why it is important to a story. IX. Closer: Turning in their exit slip of their understanding of plot. X. Assessment: Have students write one sentence describing their understanding of what plot is and why it is important to a story. Have them hand turn it in to you and read it to check for their understanding. XI. Resources: http://www.storylineonline.net/