Creating a plot diagram not only helps students learn the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop greater understanding of literary structures. Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. In this activity, students will create a visual plot diagram of major events in Beyond the Bright Sea. Students should identify major turning points in the novel such as the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
Exposition: Set in the early 1900s on one of the Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts, this story is about a 12 year old girl named Crow. Set out to sea on a small boat as a baby, Crow was taken in by a solitary man named Osh. She is determined to learn about her past, her family, and herself.
Rising Action: Osh gives Crow the ring and the note that was attached to her when he found her as a baby. The note gives clues to her past. Crow, Osh, and Miss Maggie go to Penikese Island where Crow was born to try to learn more. Crow sees the gravestone with lamb on it and the name Morgan.
Climax: After reaching out to the doctor and the nurse who worked with the lepers on Penikese Island, Crow learns who her parents are and that they said she was stillborn. She also learns she has an older brother named Jason.
Falling Action: After learning that there is treasure on Penikese that was buried by her mother, Crow, Osh, and Miss Maggie dig up the lamb gravestone and find a trunk of jewels, gems, and jewelry. Crow hides them in different locations and they are robbed.
Resolution: The robber, Mr. Kramer, is caught, and Crow is at peace knowing about her past. She realizes the importance of the family that she does have, and feels grateful for her life.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a visual plot diagram of Beyond the Bright Sea.
Student Instructions:
Group work encourages active discussion and allows students to share insights as they break down the plot together. This fosters deeper understanding and builds teamwork skills.
Give each group one part of the plot diagram (such as Exposition, Rising Action, etc.). This focuses attention and lets students delve deeper into their assigned section.
Encourage students to reread relevant chapters and discuss which moments best represent their plot element. This promotes evidence-based analysis and close reading skills.
Help students use art supplies or digital tools to design images, and coach them to write concise, descriptive captions. This builds creativity and summarization skills.
Have each group share their illustrated section with the class. Combine all sections to form a complete visual plot diagram, reinforcing comprehension through collaborative teaching.
A plot diagram for Beyond the Bright Sea visually maps out the story’s key events, including the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. It helps students understand the narrative structure and major turning points in the novel.
To create a visual plot summary, have students divide the story into six sections—Title, Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution—using a storyboard. They should illustrate key scenes and write brief descriptions for each part to capture the story’s arc.
Making a plot diagram helps students identify major events, understand literary structure, and reinforce comprehension of Beyond the Bright Sea. It encourages active engagement and deeper analysis of the narrative.
Main events to include are: Crow’s arrival and search for her past (Exposition), receiving clues about her origins (Rising Action), discovering her family history (Climax), finding and losing the treasure (Falling Action), and finding peace with her family (Resolution).
The best way is to use a visual storyboard or plot diagram activity. This method lets students break down the story, create illustrations, and write summaries for each plot part, making literary structures clear and memorable.