Students will decide on what they think are the important parts in the text are and categorize them into the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Having students decide on the beginning, middle and end will help them break the text up and make it easier to choose one or two main events to create. Students can plan their ideas with a partner or individually and decide what main parts they would like to add to their storyboard.
The storyboard shows two examples for the beginning, middle and end, but you could set a number of frames for the students to use depending on the ability of the student or the length of the text.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Make a storyboard summary of Amos and Boris.
Create a simple rubric to evaluate students’ storyboards. Use clear criteria like accuracy of events, completeness (beginning, middle, end), and sentence quality. This helps you give consistent feedback and students know what’s expected.
Review the assignment and show examples of complete storyboards. Point out what makes them effective, such as clear drawings and detailed sentences under each frame. This sets students up for success from the start.
Encourage students to discuss key moments from the story with a partner or small group. Ask guiding questions like, “What changes for Amos or Boris in this part?” to help them focus on main events rather than minor details.
Offer simple sentence frames (e.g., “First, Amos…”, “In the middle, Boris…”). This helps younger students write confidently and ensures their summaries are clear and connected to each picture.
Set aside a few minutes for students to share their storyboards in pairs or small groups. Encourage positive comments and constructive feedback, so students learn from each other and improve their summarizing skills.
A great summary activity for Amos and Boris is to have students create a storyboard showing two main events from the beginning, middle, and end of the story, with a sentence under each picture. This helps students identify key plot points and improves comprehension.
Teach beginning, middle, and end with Amos and Boris by guiding students to break down the story into three parts. Have them select main events for each section, then illustrate and write about these events to build understanding of story structure.
Effective ways for 2nd or 3rd graders to summarize Amos and Boris include making a storyboard, drawing pictures of key events, and writing simple sentences to explain each part. Working with a partner can also boost engagement.
The number of storyboard frames can vary. Typically, students use six frames—two for the beginning, two for the middle, and two for the end. Adjust the number based on student ability and story length.
Identifying main events helps students understand plot structure, improve comprehension, and practice summarizing. It also builds skills for retelling stories and analyzing literature.