A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a book. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures.
Even true stories, like memoirs, can have a plot arch. Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc of Night with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the book in sequence using Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of Night.
Begin by asking students what they think makes a story interesting. Encourage participation and jot down their ideas on the board. Highlight familiar story elements such as conflict, climax, and resolution. This primes students for the plot diagram activity and connects prior knowledge to new learning.
Display a simple short story (like a fairy tale) and walk through each part of the plot diagram—exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Use visuals or a whiteboard to sketch each section as you explain. Demonstrate how to identify key events and summarize them briefly.
Ask students to recall and list major events from 'Night' as a class or in small groups. Prompt them to consider turning points and moments of change for the main character. This helps students organize their thoughts before starting the visual activity.
Have students sketch their plot diagrams and jot down event descriptions for each section before moving to digital tools. This allows for easy editing and planning. Provide feedback or peer review to help students refine their ideas.
Arrange for students to display their finished diagrams and walk around the classroom to view others’ work. Encourage positive feedback and discussion about different interpretations of key events. This builds confidence and deepens understanding of literary structure.
A plot diagram activity for Night by Elie Wiesel helps students visually map the key events in the memoir using parts like Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. This activity deepens understanding of both the story and literary structure.
Students can create a storyboard plot diagram by dividing Night into six parts: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. For each, they design a scene and write a brief description to capture major events in sequence.
To make a plot diagram for Night, students should: 1) Identify the Exposition, 2) Determine the main Conflict, 3) Outline the Rising Action, 4) Pinpoint the Climax, 5) Describe the Falling Action, and 6) Summarize the Resolution, illustrating each part with images and descriptions.
Using a plot diagram to teach Night helps high school students visually organize the memoir's structure, reinforces comprehension of major events, and supports analysis of literary elements, making abstract concepts more concrete.
Storyboards make plot diagram activities more engaging by allowing students to visualize events, improve sequencing skills, and better retain key literary concepts. They also encourage creativity and deeper analysis of the story.