A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach 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. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the story in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
Hades, god of the Underworld, abducted Persephone and brought her to his kingdom to be his wife.
Persephone's mother, Demeter, goddess of agriculture, was so distraught over the abduction of her daughter that she refused to let anything grow. Plants died and the fields were cold and barren.
Persephone is miserable in the darkness and lifelessness of the Underworld. Very few things grow there, such as cypress trees and pomegranates.
Zeus appeals to Demeter to allow plants to grow again to avoid great loss of life. She denounces Zeus for his part in their daughter's abduction, and demands that Persephone be returned to her.
Zeus agrees that Persephone can return to her mother, but because she had eaten food from the Underworld, Persephone must spend half of the year with Hades.
When Persephone is in the Underworld, Demeter misses her and causes the cold of winter. When she returns above ground, Persephone, goddess of spring, brings warmth and brightness back to the world.
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Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of one of the Greek Explanation Myths.
Adapt your plot diagram activities for students with different learning needs to ensure everyone can participate and succeed. Use visual aids, sentence starters, or graphic organizers for extra support, and offer extension challenges for advanced learners.
Provide students with sentence frames like “At this point in the story...” or “The main problem is...” to help them write plot descriptions confidently. This scaffolding supports struggling writers and builds their narrative skills.
Offer sample images or simple illustrations to clarify each stage of the plot diagram. Visual cues help students who learn best with pictures and make abstract story parts more concrete.
Pair students strategically—matching talkative learners with quieter peers or mixing reading abilities—to promote peer support and deeper understanding of the plot stages.
Encourage students who finish early to create an alternate ending or add a new conflict to the plot diagram. This extension activity keeps advanced learners engaged and sparks creative thinking.
An explanation myth plot diagram is a visual organizer that breaks down the key events of a myth—especially those that explain natural phenomena—into parts like Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. This helps students understand how myths are structured and what each part means in the story.
To teach plot diagram parts with Greek myths, have students identify and illustrate each stage—Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution—using a familiar myth, such as Hades and Persephone. This approach makes abstract plot concepts more concrete and engaging for students.
Try having students create a six-cell storyboard showing each part of a myth's plot. Assign one cell to each stage of the diagram, and ask students to draw a key scene and write a brief description. This hands-on activity reinforces both comprehension and sequencing skills.
The Hades and Persephone myth is ideal for plot diagram lessons because it clearly shows each plot stage and illustrates how myths explain natural cycles—like the seasons. Its sequence of events is easy for students to follow and visually represent.
This plot diagram activity is best suited for grades 6–12. The content and analysis level are designed to reinforce developing skills in middle and high school students, but can be adjusted for younger or older learners as needed.