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 help students develop greater understanding of the structure of the story.
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 book in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
As an alternative or extension activity, students could focus on some of the subplots in the story, such as T.J.’s full story, or Cassie and her struggle against Lillian Jean Simms.
Cassie and her brothers live in Great Faith, Mississippi in 1933, with Mama and Big Ma, Cassie's grandmother. Stacey is nearly 13, Cassie is 9, Christopher John is 7, and Little Man is 6 years old.
The two Wallace brothers burn Mr. Perry and his two nephews. One nephew dies and the other two are severely burned. The Wallaces brag about the horrible act among their friends, but are not arrested. They also allow kids to drink and dance behind their store.
After Stacey and T.J.'s fight at the Wallaces', Mama tries to convince the people of the town to boycott the Wallaces' store. With the backing of the white lawyer, Mr. Jamison, Papa and Mr. Morrison travel to Vicksburg to buy supplies for many families.
Mr. Granger is angling to buy the Logan land, and is upset that the Logans have forgotten their "place". Mama is fired from her job, Papa is shot on one of his trips, and suddenly the property mortgage becomes due in full. They turn to Hammer for help.
R.W. and Melvin Simms frame T.J. for a break-in and murder at the store. The Wallaces and the Simms brothers drag T.J. and his family outside and threaten to lynch T.J
T.J.'s lynching is abandoned as everyone - both black and white - works together to put out the fire in the cotton fields. Cassie comes to realize that Papa started the fire to avoid further bloodshed.
(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 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
Divide your class into small groups and assign each group a different section of the story to discuss. This approach encourages students to analyze key events and share insights, enhancing their comprehension of the plot and its structure.
Give each student a specific role in their group, such as summarizer, questioner, or connector. Roles help students stay engaged and ensure everyone participates in discussing the story's events.
Prompt students to support their ideas with direct quotes or examples from the book. This practice builds critical thinking and helps students back up their interpretations.
Invite each group to present their findings and insights to the class. This allows students to learn from peers and see different perspectives on the plot.
A plot diagram for Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry visually maps the story's structure, highlighting key events in the Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. This helps students better understand the sequence and development of the plot.
Students can use a six-cell storyboard to illustrate important scenes from each plot stage—Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. Each cell should depict a major event and include a brief description to reinforce comprehension.
Using Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry to teach plot structure is effective because the novel’s rich narrative and clear plot progression make it accessible for students to identify and analyze story elements, deepen understanding, and connect emotionally with the characters.
Alternative activities include focusing on subplots, like T.J.’s story or Cassie’s struggle with Lillian Jean Simms. Students can create separate diagrams for these arcs, encouraging deeper analysis of character motivations and themes.
Key events include: the Logan family's life in Mississippi (Exposition), the Wallace brothers’ crime (Conflict), Mama’s boycott efforts (Rising Action), Papa being shot and the land at risk (Climax), T.J. being framed (Falling Action), and the community coming together to stop the fire (Resolution).