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.
Holling Hoodhood lives with his parents and sister in “the perfect house” on Long Island, New York. He is just beginning seventh grade at Camillo Junior High with the strict Mrs. Baker as his homeroom teacher.
When the other students leave for religious education on Wednesday afternoons, Holling is the only student left in class. Holling believes that his teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates him for this and is out to make his life miserable.
For the first few Wednesdays, Mrs. Baker gives Holling chores to keep him busy. Then she begins assigning him Shakespeare plays. As he goes through the year, the lessons of the plays seem to connect to his life. Holling navigates bullying, community theater, sports, and his first girlfriend, alongside fears about the Vietnam War and the unrest it causes. All the while, Holling's demanding father keeps tensions high in the Hoodhood household, causing Holling’s older sister to run away.
One Wednesday, Mrs. Baker takes Holling on an architectural tour of his city. During the tour, he realizes there is more to architecture than money and prestige as his father thinks. Holling reassesses his priorities; he realizes that he cares about his friends and Mrs. Baker and misses his sister Heather.
Holling cashes in his savings bond to help his sister return home. He goes on an end-of-the-year class field trip, and later attends Danny Hupfer’s bar mitzvah.
Holling stands up to his father, telling him that being a man is about more than a good job. The story ends on a happy note with Holling surrounded by friends, watching as Mrs. Baker’s husband returns home safely from Vietnam.
(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 Wednesday Wars.
Encourage students to share their plot diagrams in small groups or as a class to spark discussion about key events and interpretations. Ask guiding questions like “How did different choices shape the story?” or “What would you change about the climax?” to deepen understanding and promote critical thinking.
Outline what you want students to gain from the discussion, such as analyzing character decisions or connecting plot events to themes. Clear goals keep conversations focused and meaningful.
Arrange students so everyone has a chance to speak. Smaller groups make it easier for quieter students to participate and share their ideas about the plot diagram.
Demonstrate how to respond to classmates’ ideas with curiosity and respect. Practicing active listening helps build a positive classroom environment and encourages deeper insight.
Use prompts like “What surprised you about the story’s resolution?” or “How might the story change if a different character made the key decision?” These questions encourage analysis and invite diverse perspectives.
Bring the class together to summarize key insights and discuss any lingering questions. Connecting students’ ideas reinforces learning and helps everyone see the bigger picture of the story.
A plot diagram activity for The Wednesday Wars asks students to visually map out the story's narrative arc, including exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, to deepen understanding of the novel's structure and main events.
To create a plot diagram, have students use a six-cell storyboard. Each cell should represent a key story element: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. Students illustrate and describe each part in sequence, reflecting major events from The Wednesday Wars.
The six parts are Exposition (introducing Holling Hoodhood and setting), Conflict (Holling's struggles with Mrs. Baker), Rising Action (challenges and growth through the school year), Climax (Holling's realization during the architectural tour), Falling Action (helping his sister and attending events), and Resolution (standing up to his father and a happy ending).
Using storyboards helps middle school students visually organize story events, reinforces comprehension of literary structure, and makes abstract concepts like climax and resolution more concrete and memorable.
Keep instructions clear and concise, provide a template with labeled sections, let students work individually or in groups, and encourage creativity in scenes and descriptions. Use examples from The Wednesday Wars to model each plot part for students.