ALEX Learning Activity

Students will watch a short video about the elements of plot and identify character, setting, problem, and solution. Then, students will be given cards with text. Students will sort the text cards into the four categories of character, setting, problem, solution. 

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

Students will be able to: 

• identify parts of plot (character, setting, problem, solution).
• demonstrate comprehension of text by reading and sorting text cards to determine which category they belong to (character, setting, problem, solution).

Students will use the text cards to sort the text into 4 categories (character, setting, problem, solution).

Students will collaborate and create a short fictional narrative incorporating parts of plot (character, setting, problem, and solution).

1. Teacher will show the YouTube video about plot. After watching the video, the teacher will recap the parts of plot and write them on the board/butcher paper. Under each part of plot, the teacher and students will write a brief description of each part (character, setting, problem, rising action, climax, falling action, solution).

2. Teacher will put students in groups of two to three and give each group a set of the "Sort It Out" cards. Students will work together to sort the cards into 4 categories (character, setting, problem, solution).

3. When each group is finished, the teacher will check their stacks. 

4. Each group will then choose 1 character card, 1 setting card, 1 problem card, and 1 solution card.

5. Students will collaborate to create a short fictional narrative storyboard encompassing the cards they chose (character, setting, problem, solution).

6. Students must include the action(s) taken that helped solve the problem in the story.

7. Remind students to refer to the board/butcher paper if they become stuck. 

8. Students will complete the narrative storyboard template attached. Students' answers must contain a beginning/middle/end.

The teacher will read through the narrative storyboard to be sure all parts of plot are identifiable and make sense together (character, setting, problem, and solution).

Students must include the following in their fictional narrative: 

• Character(s), setting, problem, and solution.
• Action/actions that were taken to solve the problem.

All components of plot should flow and make sense together.

1. Review the YouTube Plot Mountain Video/Song.

2. Make copies of the Sort It Out cards. One set per partner/group. 

3. Create groups of 2 or 3. 

4. Copies of Sort It Out storyboard template or upload a digital copy to the learning platform used by your district.

If you are interested in other parts of the lesson I have included links for Part 2 and Part 3.