📖

The Story Mountain Climb

Plot: What Happens in the Story

Day 16of 180
Week 4of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the basic components of plot structure

2

Identify the exposition (beginning) of a story

3

Learn how stories have a clear beginning, middle, and end

📖 Scripture Connection

Ecclesiastes 3:1

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”

— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (WEB)

Just like stories have a sequence of events, God has a plan and purpose for everything in life

📦 Materials Needed

  • Large white poster board
  • Colored markers
  • Story mountain template
  • Colored pencils
  • Copy of Charlotte's Web
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and explain that today we'll learn how stories are like mountains - they have a beginning, climb up to an exciting point, and then come back down.

💭 Review Question: Can you think of a story that feels like climbing a mountain?
2Teaching (10 min)

Introduce the story mountain diagram with five key parts: exposition (bottom left), rising action (left slope), climax (peak), falling action (right slope), and resolution (bottom right).

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Every good story has a clear structure
  • The beginning introduces characters and setting
  • Problems and excitement build as the story moves forward
  • The most exciting moment is at the top of the mountain
  • The story then shows how problems get solved
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What makes a story interesting?
  • How do characters change during a story?
  • Why do you think stories need a beginning, middle, and end?
3Activity: Story Mountain Drawing (10 min)
hands-on

Students will draw their own story mountain using Charlotte's Web as an example, marking each part of the plot structure.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw a large mountain on your paper
  2. Label the bottom left as 'Exposition'
  3. Draw the left slope as 'Rising Action'
  4. Mark the top peak as 'Climax'
  5. Draw the right slope as 'Falling Action'
  6. Label the bottom right as 'Resolution'
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Teacher helps students fill in mountain together

Challenge: Students add specific events from the story to each mountain section

4Closing (5 min)

Review the story mountain and how it helps us understand how stories work.

📝 Review Questions:
  • What are the five parts of a story mountain?
  • Why is the top of the mountain special in a story?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for giving us the ability to tell and understand stories. Help us learn how stories can teach us about life and your love.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll look closer at how problems grow in a story!

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 16:9

“A man's heart plans his way, but Yahweh directs his steps.”

— Proverbs 16:9 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Step-by-Step Memory Verse Walk

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Plot structure helps children understand narrative complexity and storytelling

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use visual aids to explain plot structure
  • Encourage children to think about stories they know
  • Make connections between story structure and real life
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it challenging to distinguish between different plot stages

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to identify basic story parts and sequence of events

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a story mountain for a favorite fairy tale
  • Write a short story following the mountain structure
  • Act out different parts of the story mountain

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 17 →Back to Literature