A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a novel. 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 novel 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.

( Plot Diagram Lesson Plan • Buy Poster • Buy PDF )

The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street Plot Diagram Example

Exposition

On quiet, suburban Maple Street, somewhere in America, the inhabitants notice a meteor-like object fly overhead. After it passes, all electronics and electricity go dead.

Conflict

A young boy named Tommy tells a story he read about aliens arriving from outer space. Believing his story, the people start to suspect each other of being secret aliens.

Rising Action

One resident, Pete Van Horn, leaves to check the next block over. Meanwhile, Mr. Goodman's car mysteriously starts. Everyone accuses him of being an alien. Steve tries to talk some sense into the mob, but fails. He becomes a suspect as attention is directed to the radio in his basement!

Climax

The mob sees a figure coming towards them. Charlie grabs a gun and accidentally shoots Van Horn, who has returned. Suddenly, Charlie's lights go on, and now he is the prime suspect.

Falling Action

Everyone is hysterical. Charlie screams that the real alien is Tommy, the young boy who knew the events before they happened.

Resolution

In the end, aliens watch the town as it destroys itself. A simple trick by the aliens turned the residents against each other; they themselves were the monsters, not the aliens.

As students read, a storyboard can serves as a helpful character reference log. This log (also called a character map) allows students to recall relevant information about important characters. When reading a story, small attributes and details frequently become important as the plot progresses. With character mapping, students will record this information, helping them follow along and catch the subtleties which make reading more enjoyable!

The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street character map helps students remember who were called out as scapegoats, and will visually show them how quickly things escalated. It will also provide a reference for discussion about how each person added to the hysteria.

Example Character Map

• Name: Steve Brand
• Description of character’s personality:

Leader, calming influence, intelligent, open-minded, tries to control the mob.

• What causes the mob to focus on him?

He always works late in his basement on a radio.

• Changes in character, physically or mentally?

He eventually gets angry, and stops trying to help.

Most short stories and screenplays are rich in figurative language and literary elements. These are used to enhance the symbols, motifs, and themes within the plot. Monsters on Maple Street is no exception. The use of simile, metaphor, personification, and onomatopoeia is abundant.

A great lesson plan, after reading the story, is for students to create a scavenger hunt using the storyboard creator. Give them a list of figurative language to find and have them create a storyboard that depicts and explains the use of each literary element in the story! They will have an absolute blast and master the words by the end.

Elements of Figurative Language - Motifs of Hysteria and Animal-like Behavior!