Lesson One-Identifying Plot Elements

Part One: Lesson Focus-“The What”

Content Objective: Students will be able to identify plot elements in a set of
three short films.
CCSS Standard: Reading: Literature Standard 2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text; provide an
objective summary of the text.

Reading: Literature Standard 3

Language Objective: Students
Assessment:
Materials and Resources:
Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama
interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).
Students will be able to identify and list plot elements in a
set of three short films using a plot diagram.
The plot diagram will be used to assess the students.
An exit ticket will be given to the students at the end of the
lesson.
The teacher will be circling around the classroom period
asking questions to assess student understanding using the
1-3 fingers method.
Youtube videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWd4mzGqQYo&t=97s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1zYDFwtZF4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrdn-LXNn9U

Narrative writing terms website

https://amandatlopez95.wixsite.com/website/intro-to-
narrative-writing

Elements of plot notes

3 set Plot line graphic organizer packet.

Part Two: Lesson Implementation-“The How”

Lesson One
Lesson Components with
Estimated Timeframe
Lesson Introduction:
20 minutes
Teacher Expectations:
Instructional
Strategies/Activities/Questions
Introduction- Explain to
students that today we will be
learning about narrative and
story plots and how to diagram
them.
Define narrative. What is it
what does it look like? It
Student Expectations
Students will be taking notes on
their plot diagram worksheet.
They will identify each element
of the plot and take notes on
what it means. They are also
encouraged to ask questions
where there is confusion.

Check For Understanding:
Instructional Strategy: Teacher
Modeling—“I Do” 20 minutes
Check for Understanding:
Instructional Strategy: Guided
Practice-“We Do”
20 Minutes
contains a plot! What are plots
made out of or what are the
elements of a plot?
Hand out the plot diagram
sheet and go over all of the
different elements of the plot
including exposition. (Teacher
can use her website key as a
guide, or offer it as a tool for
the students to use.
Ask questions to assess Students will hold up the
understanding as you go along. relevant finger that shows their
Use the 1-3 fingers strategy. level of understanding.
I will play an animated short Students will be watching the
“One Small Step” and will model video and taking notes on a
how they find the different plot blank sheet of paper watching
points in the story. There will be for anything they think might be
an initial viewing just to watch relevant. On the second viewing
the video and take notes. The they will be watching the
second viewing will be to teachers modeling and taking
identify the plot elements. I will down the notes on what the
write the points in on an empty plot elements of the story are.
plot diagram work sheet
walking through my thought
process on identifying the
elements. The thought process
on how to do this will have to
be modeled in detail to the
students so that they can do it
on their own.
As questions to assess student Students should hold up the
understanding at the end of this relevant figure that shows their
section. If you think you know level of understanding.
this so well you could teach it
give me a three, if you kinda
know it but want some more
practice give me a two, if you
have no idea about any of this
give me a one.
The teacher will open up the Students will watch the video
second video “A Moonlights once all the way through
Tale” First the students will encouraged to take notes on
simply watch the video all the things they think might be
way through to get the idea of important towards the plot. The
the story. Ask them to take scribe is responsible for filling
notes on things that they think out the plot diagram worksheet
are important or tie in with the for the video. For ELL students
elements of the plot. After the this can be done in Spanish or
 first watch the teacher and they can even draw pictures to
students will go over it again represent the part of the short
this time assessing for the vide. Students in will be
elements of the plot. The expected to generate ideas for
teacher will have one student as the different elements of the
the scribe. The rest of the plot within the story and taking
students will be offering their down the notes on their own
ideas on what parts of the story plot diagram paper.
fit the different plot elements.
These will be mapped on the
second plot diagram.
Instructional Strategy: Finally the students will be put Students will be working
Independent Practice in groups of four. Each group together in groups to complete
20 Minutes will get a computer to use and the assignment. They will be
they will be spaced out across listening to one another,
the room. They can divide the watching the video, taking
roles of finding certain plot notes and identifying the
elements amongst the four of elements of the plot on their
them or they can do it all worksheets to turn in. Each
together. However, they feel group will paper clip their
will be most efficient. Each papers together and turn them
group will be given the task of in all at once.
watching the same video
“Beyond Us”. They will watch
the video once for a general
idea, then they will watch it
again in order to identify and
mark down the elements of plot
within the story on their plot
diagram. The teacher will walk
around between groups
listening as they discuss the
elements of plot prepared to
answer questions and offer
insight.
Check for Understanding Students will be given an exit Students are being
ticket in which they list one metacognitive about their level
thing they learned in the class. of understanding and where
One thing they really enjoyed they need to receive more help
about the lesson, and one by filling out the exit ticket.
question or area of confusion
that they have.
Lesson Closure I will pass out the exit tickets Students will fill out exit tickets
5 Minutes which Students will fill out and and participate in a discussion
hand in. Then I will ask them about the lesson reviewing
how they felt about analyzing what they learned.
plot through short films. Was it
easy? Was it hard? Reflect on
 the objective of the day and ask
students if they believe that
they have fulfilled this
objective.

Part 3: Post Lesson Analysis-“The What’s Next”

Data Analysis: Reviewing the groups sets of
plot diagrams from the videos
will show what students are
getting the content and which
are not. Reviewing the exit
tickets will allow for me to plan
to readdress certain content if
needed in the following lesson
or if they are continuing on as
planned.
Reflection: I think this is a fun lesson
because the students get to
watch videos. I also like that
many of the videos offer
subtitles in English that would
be useful for certain ELL
learners. Some of them don’t
even have dialogue! If I had
time I would like to have each
group do a different video and
then share what they
discovered.