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.
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.
(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 Lightning Thief.
Boost student engagement by having small groups each create part of the plot diagram on chart paper or digitally. This encourages teamwork and deeper analysis as students discuss key events to include for each plot stage.
Give each student a specific role (such as summarizer, illustrator, or connector) within their group. Roles help students focus on different aspects of the plot, ensuring everyone participates and gains a fuller understanding of the story.
Ask students to find and record quotes from the text for each plot diagram section. This practice strengthens close reading skills and helps justify why certain events are considered major turning points.
Lead a discussion where groups present their diagrams and explain their choices. Comparing interpretations sparks critical thinking and shows that plot analysis can have more than one valid perspective.
A plot diagram for The Lightning Thief visually maps out the story’s key events, including the exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, helping students understand the narrative structure of Rick Riordan’s novel.
Students can create a storyboard plot diagram by separating the story into six main parts—exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution—and illustrating or describing a key moment from each section in sequence.
The major plot points in The Lightning Thief include Percy’s discovery of his demigod identity (exposition), the theft of Zeus’s lightning bolt (conflict), Percy’s quest and challenges (rising action), the showdown with Ares (climax), resolving misunderstandings among the gods (falling action), and Percy’s return to camp (resolution).
Creating a plot diagram helps students break down and visualize the structure of The Lightning Thief, making it easier to identify key events, follow the narrative arc, and analyze how stories are constructed.
The best way to teach plot structure with The Lightning Thief is to have students use a storyboard or visual organizer to map out each major story event, encouraging them to think critically about the significance of each plot stage.