Creating a plot diagram not only helps students learn the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop a 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 Ivy's story in Echo. Students should identify major turning points in Ivy's story such as the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution
.Exposition: Ivy Maria Lopez lived in California with her mother, father, and brother Fernando in 1942. Her parents were migrant farmers and moved often. When WWII broke out, Fernando went to fight and the family missed him. Then Ivy learned they'd be moving to a farm where they may own land after the lease is up. Her parents were thrilled, but Ivy was sad to leave her favorite teacher, best friend, and the opportunity to play in her school band with her new special harmonica.
Conflict: Ivy’s family moved to the new farm which they leased from the Yamamoto family. They had been forced to a concentration camp because of their Japanese heritage. The Lopez family cared for the farm in their absence so the Yamamotos wouldn't lose their property. Ivy looked forward to starting school with her new friend Susan Ward. However, she realized that she was forced to go to a separate school because of her Mexican heritage!
Rising Action: Susan's two brothers fought in the war and one had been killed in action. Susan's father was convinced that the Yamamotos were Japanese spies and insisted on searching the house for clues. Rather than find signs of espionage, they found a room full of instruments that were being stored for safe keeping for dozens of Japanese American families forced to go to the concentration camps.
Climax: Ivy joined the school band and her teacher encouraged her to take up the flute. Kenny Yamamoto, who had joined the army, came to visit the farm to sign papers for the Lopez's lease. He was grateful they would care for the farm in his family's absence. Ivy felt compelled to give Kenny her special harmonica when he left for war. One day on her way home, she and Susan spotted a telegram messenger at her door, which meant bad news!
Falling Action: Luckily, Fernando was only wounded in action. He came home and eventually married a teacher from the combined school that Ivy's parents and many others worked to desegregate. The Yamamotos came home after the war and were able to regain their farm. Kenny Yamamoto had also miraculously survived the war all thanks to the lucky harmonica that Ivy had given him! Ivy pursued her passion for music and became an accomplished flute player.
Resolution: At the end of the story, in 1951, Ivy is a new young flute player for the Empire Philharmonic in New York. She is giving a performance in Carnegie Hall and in the audience cheering her on is her dear friend, Kenny Yamamoto.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a visual plot diagram for Ivy's story in Echo.
Student Instructions:
Invite students to work in small groups to create a shared plot diagram on chart paper or a digital tool. Collaboration encourages discussion about key events and deepens comprehension as students negotiate which moments to include.
Designate specific roles—such as scribe, artist, researcher, and presenter—to each student in the group. Defined responsibilities ensure active participation and help students develop teamwork skills.
Encourage groups to discuss and agree on the exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Group decision-making builds critical thinking and helps students justify their choices with text evidence.
Have each group present their plot diagram to the class. Peers can ask questions or offer feedback, fostering a supportive classroom culture and deeper understanding of the story.
Lead a discussion about different interpretations of the story's major events and structure. This helps students appreciate diverse perspectives and reinforces understanding of plot components.
A plot diagram visually breaks down a story’s main elements—such as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. For Ivy’s story in Echo, using a plot diagram helps students identify key events, understand character development, and see how the narrative arc shapes Ivy’s journey.
To make a visual plot diagram for Ivy’s story, divide the plot into six parts: Title, Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. For each, draw or select images that represent major events, then write brief descriptions explaining what happens at each stage of the story.
The major turning points include: moving to a new farm (exposition), facing school segregation (conflict), discovering the Yamamotos' instruments (rising action), Ivy joining the band and giving Kenny the harmonica (climax), the return of family and friends after the war (falling action), and Ivy’s musical success (resolution).
Teaching plot structure with stories like Ivy’s in Echo helps students connect literary concepts to real-world themes such as resilience, diversity, and historical context. It also enhances reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
Try using storyboards, graphic organizers, or group discussions to help students spot the exposition, climax, and resolution. Visual aids and collaborative activities make it easier for students to break down complex narratives and remember key story elements.