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 literary structures. Sometimes students will really have to think carefully about which events are major turning points in the plot. The House on Mango Street may be a little trickier than others because of the vignette structure of the book.
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.
Esperanza and her family move to a one bedroom house on Mango Street in Chicago. While the house is better than the old apartment, it still falls short of her expectations.
Esperanza battles with her place in the world. She feels as though she doesn’t fit in and wants to escape Mango Street.
Esperanza wants to leave her neighborhood and desires to grow up. She spends time with Sally, a more worldly girl. She gets a job, and one of the old men there forces her to kiss him.
Esperanza's friendship with Sally leads to a sexual assault at the carnival.
Esperanza returns her focus to Mango Street and accepts that she belongs there. She rekindles friendships with neighbors and her “less mature” friends.
Esperanza wants to be strong and have a place of her own. She wants to become a writer who is dependent on only herself.
(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 The House on Mango Street.
Select key storyboard scenes that highlight major themes such as identity, belonging, and dreams. These visuals will spark meaningful conversation and help students connect plot events to larger ideas.
Ask students to review each cell in their storyboard and label the theme it represents. This encourages deeper analysis and helps students recognize recurring motifs throughout the narrative.
Organize students into small groups to share their storyboards and discuss the themes they've identified. Comparing interpretations builds critical thinking and fosters collaborative learning.
Encourage students to relate the story’s themes to their own lives by sharing personal stories or reflections. This personal connection makes the lesson more memorable and meaningful.
The House on Mango Street is a novel by Sandra Cisneros that follows Esperanza, a young Latina girl, as she grows up in Chicago. Through a series of vignettes, Esperanza shares her experiences, dreams, and struggles to find her place in the world, ultimately aspiring to create a better life for herself beyond Mango Street.
Students can make a plot diagram for The House on Mango Street by dividing the story into six parts: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. For each part, they should create a scene that matches a key moment from the book and write a brief description for each step.
Key plot points include: Esperanza's family moving to Mango Street (Exposition), her struggle to fit in (Conflict), her growing desire for independence (Rising Action), the traumatic event at the carnival (Climax), her renewed connection to her community (Falling Action), and her dream to become a writer and have her own place (Resolution).
The House on Mango Street uses vignettes to illustrate moments and memories from Esperanza's life, giving readers a personal, fragmented view of her growth and experiences. This structure highlights important themes and allows readers to connect emotionally with the protagonist's journey.
The best way is to have students build a visual plot diagram using storyboards. Breaking down the narrative into Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution helps students understand literary structure and key events. Pairing visuals with brief summaries reinforces comprehension.