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.
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 story in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
A small town in northern Europe is invaded by a nameless occupying force. George Corell arranged it, and now the townsmen are being forced to mine the coal mine for the occupiers. Colonel Lanser wants this occupation to go as smoothly as possible, but Mayor Orden knows that his people don’t like being conquered.
Colonel Lanser’s men are facing increasing hostility from the townspeople. Captain Bentick is killed, and after the execution of Alex Morden, the silent revenge of the people seeps out as they sabotage the mining efforts. Lanser seeks to bring them under his control with Orden’s help, but Orden refuses to cooperate.
As the hostility increases, so do the soldiers’ paranoia about the town they are occupying. Men are escaping from the town and fleeing to England. Mayor Orden tells the Anders boys to tell the English to drop dynamite so they can fight back, and they do a few weeks later. Lanser knows he has to bring this spirit of rebellion under control, especially since the townspeople are killing his soldiers at any chance they get.
After the parachutes with the dynamite drop, Corell, who survived a kidnapping and murder attempt by the Anders boys, arrives and tells Lanser that he has received authority from the Capital. He informs Lanser of Orden’s cooperation with subversive actions in the town, and Lanser concludes he needs to arrest Orden and Doctor Winter, the local historian and physician.
After their arrest, Lanser pleads with Mayor Orden to tell his people to stand down. He hopes that the threat of the execution of the town’s two leaders will deter any more violence. However, while Orden is slightly anxious about his own death, he begins to recite from Socrates’ Apology, and takes heart in the fact that while he may die, other leaders will emerge. The Mayor is an office, and it will continue even if he is not present.
An explosion goes off, and Lanser knows he must follow through with executing Orden and Winter as punishment. Orden finishes his recitation of Apology, with resolve that the debt of his death will be paid by the people as they continue to fight their oppressors.
(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 Moon is Down.
Guide students to identify and analyze the central themes such as resistance, leadership, and moral courage. This helps students connect plot events to deeper meanings, encouraging thoughtful participation and critical thinking.
Develop open-ended questions that prompt students to think about how characters' choices reflect the story's themes. For example, ask how Mayor Orden’s decisions show leadership or how townspeople resist occupation. This sparks engaging conversation and deeper understanding.
Explain discussion guidelines, such as respectful listening, building on others’ ideas, and supporting thoughts with evidence from the text. This fosters a safe, inclusive environment where all voices are valued.
Display the plot diagram or relevant storyboard scenes as you discuss. Visuals anchor the conversation and help students recall key events and connect them with themes.
Have students write a short reflection or share takeaways about how the story’s themes relate to real-world situations. This reinforces learning and encourages personal connection to the text.
A plot diagram for The Moon is Down breaks the story into six parts: exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Each section highlights key events, helping students understand the narrative arc and major turning points in John Steinbeck's novel.
Students can create a storyboard by dividing the story into six cells: exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. For each cell, they illustrate a key scene and write a brief description, capturing the main events and structure of the novel visually.
The main events include the invasion of a small town, growing resistance from townspeople, acts of sabotage, the dropping of dynamite, the arrest of Mayor Orden and Doctor Winter, and the ongoing spirit of rebellion after their execution.
Plot diagrams help K-12 students break down stories into manageable parts, reinforcing comprehension, sequence, and critical thinking. They make complex narratives easier to understand and analyze, supporting curriculum goals in literature studies.
Use visual aids like plot diagrams, encourage group discussions about resistance and leadership, and connect the story's themes to real-world events. Assign creative activities such as storyboarding to deepen engagement and understanding.