Another great way to engage your students is through the creation of storyboards that use 

vocabulary from Animal Farm. Here is a list of a few vocabulary words

commonly taught with the story, and an example visual vocabulary board.

Vocabulary Words From Animal Farm

 inscribe
 ration
 harvest
 pasture
 quarry
 ensconce
 knoll
 huddle
 gambol
 whinny
 superannuated
 cryptic
 maxim
 accumulate
 piebald
 ignominious
 abolish
 disinter
 shirk

In the vocabulary board, students can choose between coming up with their use of the vocabulary word, finding a specific example from the text, or depicting it without
words.
A common activity for students is to create a plot diagram of the events from a novel. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of a plot, it also helps to reinforce
major events, and helps students develop greater understanding of literary structures.
Students can create a storyboard that captures the narrative arc of a story with a six-cell storyboard which contains the major parts of the  plot diagram. For each cell,
have students create a scene that follows the novel in sequence, using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
  
( Plot Diagram Lesson Plan • Buy Poster • Buy PDF )

Example Animal Farm Plot Diagram

Exposition
On the Manor Farm, a venerable boar named Old Major, gathers the animals for a meeting and inspires them to revolt. although he dies, two pigs, Napoleon and
Snowball, vow to continue his work, and lead the others in driving off the unfit, drunken farmer. The pigs of the farm begin to establish a new government where animals
have rights. They adopt "The Seven Commandments of Animalism", the most important of which is: "All animals are equal."
Conflict
The animals begin to read and write. They use the commandments to educate all the young. Food is plentiful, and the farm runs smoothly. However, when the pigs
elevate themselves to positions of leadership, a struggle for power begins between the two successors of Old Major. Napoleon wins by having his dogs chase Snowball
off the farm.

Rising Action
As supreme leader, Napoleon enacts changes to the governance of the farm, replacing meetings of all animals with a committee of pigs who will run the farm. Eventually,
Napoleon's supremacy has him paranoid that someone will try to overthrow him.

Climax
Napoleon begins to blame Snowball, the pig he chased away, for incidents happening on the farm. Using Snowball as a scapegoat, Napoleon begins to purge the farm,
accusing other animals of conspiring with his old rival, and attacking them with dogs.

Falling Action
The animals become convinced that they were better off with the farmer, Mr. Jones, than the tyranny that has come to be. Things get progressively worse on the farm.
Animals are worked to the point of collapsing, and it is clear that the commandments have been rewritten.
Resolution
Animals are no longer equal. The pigs are beginning to take on human qualities, like walking upright. As the animals gaze at pigs and humans, they realize they can no
longer tell the two apart.

Animal Farm Conflict

Animal Farm - Conflict

Storyboarding is a great way to focus on the various types of literary conflicts. Have students choose some examples of literary conflict, and depict them using the
Storyboard Creator!
 Examples of Conflict from Animal Farm

( Literary Conflict Lesson Plan • Buy Poster • Buy PDF )

MAN vs. SELF: Boxer vs. Himself

Boxer worries about the farm, and blames himself. When Napoleon starts killing other animals, he says, "I would not have believed that such things could happen on our
farm. It must be due to some fault in ourselves."

MAN vs. SOCIETY: The Animals vs. Humans

Old Major begins the ideology of "Animalism", which goes against the current way of life.
MAN vs. MAN: Napoleon vs. Snowball
These two pigs have it out for each other. As Napoleon becomes a tyrannical dictator, Snowball struggles to find order. Napoleon eventually uses brute force to run
Snowball off the farm.

Animal Farm Allegory

Animal Farm Allegory

Allegories rely on extensive symbolic meaning to convey their messages. For students to decipher and understand these extended metaphors, it is helpful to track
parallels between the text and the larger issues it is representing. Check out our lesson on Allegory!
In Animal Farm, Orwell uses the allegory of animals revolting on a farm to condemn Stalinist Russia. Orwell creates many parallels between the farm and communist
Russia. For example: the Commandments of Animalism mimic ideas that Karl Marx outlined in "The Communist Manifesto." The various animals in the novel were used
to symbolize important figures of the Russian communist movement such as Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.
As a lesson, have your students create a storyboard that shows the parallels between the events and characters of the farm and those during and after Russia’s
communist revolution.

Animal Farm Characters

Animal Farm Characters

Before or during reading, it is helpful to review the ways that this novel is allegorical. Students will need knowledge of important Russian figures, and how they relate to
the characters of Animal Farm. If starting this assignment while reading, students can complete this character map to help keep track of important attributes of each
character. If completing before reading, internet research may be helpful to establish prominent figures and characteristics of particular communist leaders that play a
significant role in the allegory.

Be sure to check out our resources on the Russian Revolution and Communism!

Important Figures in Animal Farm and Communism

BOOK CHARACTERS DESCRIPTION HISTORICAL FIGURES

He is the first of the animals who stands up for the working class. It is his original suggestion to revolt against the
Old Major humans.
Karl Marx/Lenin

A true leader of the revolt, the other animals look up to him. He is the one who comes up with the plans for a
Snowball windmill.
Leo Trotsky

After Old Major's death, Napoleon uses Snowball to continue Major's dream. After the rebellion, he seizes control,
Napoleon becoming a tyrant.
Stalin

Squealer Squealer often speaks for Napoleon and is excellent at using rhetoric to manipulate the animals. Russian Media
 Boxer & Clover Boxer is a working horse who believes wholeheartedly in the cause. He works himself to death for "Animalism". The Russian Working Class

A horse who was never for the rebellion, she eventually is lured away from the farm because she does not believe Russia's Upper Classes/Loyal
Mollie in the animals' ideology.
to Czar

A smart, wise, old donkey who can read and write just as well as the pigs. He continuously remarks that donkeys The Older Generation of
Benjamin live a long time, suggesting that with age comes wisdom.
Russians

Moses A raven who speaks of a lost paradise for animals called "Sugar Candy Mountain." Russian Orthodox Church

Bluebell, Jessie, and These dogs are Napoleon's enforcers. He uses the dogs to run Snowball off the farm.
The Police/Military
Pincher

The drunk farmer that owned the farm before the animals took over. He dies with hopes to regain the farm but Tsar Nicholas II and the
Mr. & Mrs. Jones never does.
Former Aristocracy

A capitalist that Napoleon hires to work deals with neighboring farms for him. Capitalism in the Soviet
Mr. Whymper
Union

A landowner of a neighboring farm who sells Napoleon some land. In the end, he oddly cheers Napoleon's success,
Mr. Pilkington which seems fake!
Leaders of England
 Owner of Pinchfield Farm, who is notorious for "driving hard bargains", swindles Napoleon by buying timber from
Mr. Frederick him with counterfeit bills. He later tries to take Animal Farm forcibly, but is unsuccessful.
Leaders of Germany

Animal Farm Summary

On the Manor Farm, a venerable boar named Old Major, gathers the animals for a meeting and inspires them to revolt. Although he dies, two pigs, Napoleon and
Snowball, vow to continue his work, and lead the others in driving off the unfit, drunken farmer. The pigs of the farm begin to establish a new government where animals
have rights. They adopt "The Seven Commandments of Animalism", the most important of which is: "All animals are equal."
The animals begin to read and write. They use the commandments to educate all the young. Food is plentiful, and the farm runs smoothly. However, when the pigs
elevate themselves to positions of leadership, a struggle for power begins between the two successors to Old Major. Napoleon wins by having his dogs chase Snowball
off the farm.
As supreme leader, Napoleon enacts changes to the governance of the farm, replacing meetings of all animals with a committee of pigs who will run the farm. Eventually,
Napoleon's supremacy has him paranoid that someone will try to overthrow him. He begins to blame Snowball, the pig he chased away, for incidents happening on the
farm. Using Snowball as a scapegoat, Napoleon begins to purge the farm, accusing other animals of conspiring with his old rival, and attacking them with dogs. The
animals become convinced that they were better off with the farmer, Mr. Jones, than the tyranny that has come to be.
Things get progressively worse on the farm. Animals are worked to the point of collapsing, and it is clear that the commandments have been rewritten. Most ominously,
the first commandment now reads: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." The pigs begin to take on human qualities like walking upright and
dealing with other farmers. As the animals gaze at pigs and humans, they realize they can no longer tell the two apart.
 Essential Questions for Animal Farm

1. What responsibilities do individuals have in society?

2. What makes a good leader?
3. How can we avoid making the same mistakes that history has made?

Don’t Let the Fun Stop There! Check Out Our Other Lesson Plan Ideas

1. Use storyboards that show specific causes and effects of events in the story.
2. Create a storyboard depicting the rising action to demonstrate how the author built suspense.
3. Add a presentation to any storyboard project.