The Fire Cat Visual Summary

In this activity, students decide what they think the important parts in the text are and categorize them into the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Having students decide on the beginning, middle and end will help them break the text up and makes it easier to choose one or two main events to represent. Students can plan their ideas with a partner or individually and decide what events they would like to add to their storyboard.

The storyboard above shows two examples for the beginning, middle, and end. You can set a number of frames for the students to use based on the ability of the student, or the length of the text.

Beginning

• Example 1

  Pickles lives in a barrel, and since there is nothing better to do, he chases other cats. Mrs. Goodkind is his only friend, she feeds him and offers a home for him, but Pickles likes living outside better. She warns Pickles that something bad will happen if he continues to act bad.

• Example 2

  Pickles chases a young cat up a tree and will not let the cat go. A storm comes, so Pickles lets the little cat go, but he is too scared to climb down! Mrs. Goodkind calls the firefighters and Fireman Joe climbs a ladder and rescues Pickles.

Middle

• Example 1

  Mrs. Goodkind explains to Fireman Joe that Pickles wants to do big things in life. Fireman Joe brings Pickles to the fire station and the Chief says he will let pickles stay, if he learns how to be a good fire house cat.

• Example 2

  Pickles learns the ropes very quickly. He learns how to slide down the fire pole, how to jump onto the engine and sit straight while the engine drives, how to help hold the firehose, and much more.

End

• Example 1

  The Chief calls Pickles into his office. He tells Pickles he has seen all the hard work he has done. The Chief makes Pickles an official Fire Cat and gives him a little fire hat.

• Example 1

  Pickles learns to be friendly with other cats. He goes on a call to help a cat stuck in a tree. It is the same tree he was rescued from! Pickles bravely climbs up the ladder and rescues the cat. He is very proud of himself and happy.

Student Instructions

Make a storyboard summary of The Fire Cat.

1. Make pictures that show two main events from the beginning of the story.
2. Make pictures that show two main events from the middle of the story.
3. Make pictures that show two main events from the end of the story.
4. Write a sentence under each picture.