Plot Dominoes Activity
Story Architect Lab • Guided Challenge
Plot Dominoes Activity
Name:
Date:
Detective Tip: Character traits lead to actions. Actions knock down plot events just like dominoes!
Step-by-Step Guide
Story Case: "The Clockwork Sparrow" Read carefully
Maya was wildly curious and impatient. Inside her grandfather’s clock repair shop, she loved touching the shiny gears. Grandfather had to leave for five minutes. Before he left, he gave Maya one clear rule: "Never wind the brass toy sparrow past three clicks, or the spring will snap!"
As soon as Grandfather walked out, Maya's curiosity took over. She wanted to see the bird fly all the way across the ceiling. Instead of stopping at three clicks, Maya impatiently cranked the brass key eight full turns!
SNAP! WHIRRR! The overloaded spring exploded! The metal bird zoomed out the high window and crashed straight through Mrs. Gable’s glass greenhouse next door. Shattered glass fell everywhere, crushing her prize flowers. Maya froze in shock—her choice had just caused an enormous disaster.
Trait Word Bank:
Curious Impatient Cautious Disobedient Adventurous
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Character Profile: Maya (Fill in the Blanks)
Character Trait
Pick one trait word from the bank:
Maya’s main trait is:
One clue from the story:
Motivation (Goal)
What did Maya want so badly?
Maya was motivated because she really wanted to see the bird:
Feelings Flip
How did her emotions change?
At first:
After crash:
Connect Trait to Action (Complete the Sentence Frame):
Because Maya was so , she decided to . This action pushed the story into big trouble because .
Story Architect Lab • Guided Character & Plot Extension Page 1 of 2 • Turn to Page 2
Part 2 The Domino Chain Reaction
One action causes the next event to fall!
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Trace the Plot Dominoes (Finish Each Step)
Complete the guided sentence in each domino block to show the chain reaction:
Domino 1
Character Choice
Maya chose to crank the key:
______ turns
instead of stopping at:
______ clicks.
This started the chain!
Domino 2
Machine Fails
Because it was overwound, the spring:
and the metal bird zoomed out the:
The bird escapes!
Domino 3
Disaster Hits
The metal bird crashed into:
and broke the prize:
Disaster next door!
Domino 4
Next Problem
Now the shop alarm is clanging, and Maya must:
Trouble has arrived!
3
The "What-If" Trait Flip (Rewrite the Ending)
What if Maya had a different trait? Imagine she was patient and careful instead of reckless.
A. What choice would careful Maya make?
She only turns the key 3 times as told.
She waits quietly for Grandfather to return.
B. How does this stop the disaster?
Complete the sentence:
Because she was careful, the bird would not crash, and Mrs. Gable's greenhouse would:
★
Try It With Your Own Book!
Reading Companion
Book:
Character:
1. Character Trait & Action:
My character is , so they decided to:
2. What Happened Next (Plot Domino):
Because they took that action, the next thing that happened was:
Supported Reader Edition • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3 Page 2 of 2
Plot Dominoes Answer Key
Teacher Key & Scaffolding Guide
Plot Dominoes Answer Key
RL.3.3 Supported Edition Grade 3 • Character & Plot
Target Learning Goal: Guide students in identifying Maya’s trait (curious / impatient) from a word bank and completing sentence frames explaining how her action broke the sparrow and caused the greenhouse disaster.
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Mission 1: Character Profile (Completed Sentence Frames)
Character Trait Word Bank
Target trait & textual proof:
Trait: Curious or Impatient (also accept Disobedient).
Story Clue: "She loved touching the shiny gears" or "her curiosity took over."
Motivation (Goal) Her Goal
What she wanted so badly:
Completed Stem: Maya was motivated because she really wanted to see the bird: fly all the way across the ceiling.
Feelings Flip Emotion Shift
Before vs after feelings:
At first: Excited, eager, curious.
After crash: Shocked, scared, frozen, guilty.
Connect Trait to Action: Completed Model Sentence
Sentence Frame Model
"Because Maya was so curious / impatient, she decided to crank the key eight full turns. This action pushed the story into big trouble because the spring exploded and the bird smashed Mrs. Gable’s greenhouse glass and prize flowers."
Scaffolding Moves for Students Needing Extra Support
- Choral or Echo Read First: Read "The Clockwork Sparrow" aloud together. Have students circle or highlight the word "impatiently" and "curious" directly in the text.
- Physical Domino Demo: Set up 4 physical dominoes on a desk. Label the first one "Maya turns key 8 times". Gently tap it to show how one push inevitably topples the rest!
- Partner Turn-and-Talk: Before writing in the sentence frame, have students say their sentence aloud to a partner: "Because Maya was so..."
Plot Dominoes Answer Key • Supported Edition Guide Page 1 of 2 • Continue for Page 2 & Guided Rubric
Part 2 Domino Chain Key & Scoring Rubric
Teacher Reference for Supported Edition
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Mission 2: Plot Dominoes Completed Answer Key
Domino 1: Choice
Maya chose to crank the key 8 turns instead of stopping at 3 clicks.
Spark = Trait action
Domino 2: Machine Fails
Because it was overwound, the spring snapped/exploded, and the bird zoomed out the window.
Physical effect
Domino 3: Disaster Hits
The bird crashed into Mrs. Gable’s greenhouse and broke the prize flowers/orchids.
Community impact
Domino 4: Next Problem
Now the alarm is clanging, and Maya must confess to Grandfather / face trouble.
Unresolved conflict
3
Mission 3: What-If Trait Flip Solution
A. Correct Choice Box:
Either checkbox is acceptable:
✓ She only turns the key 3 times as told or
✓ She waits quietly for Grandfather to return.
B. Completed Ending Sentence:
"Because she was careful, the bird would not crash, and Mrs. Gable’s greenhouse would: stay safe and undamaged / not have broken glass."
★
Step-Below Progress Rubric (RL.3.3)
Quick 3-Level Checklist
Skill Target (Level 3) Approaching (Level 2) Needs Support (Level 1)
1. Trait Word Selection Selects an accurate word bank trait (e.g. Curious) and identifies a matching clue. Selects a trait word, but needs help locating the story clue. Picks a random word without connecting to character behavior.
2. Trait-Action Frame Completes the sentence frame showing Maya's trait caused her to crank the key 8 times. Names the action (turned key), but leaves out why or what trouble followed. Requires teacher dictation or sentence starter prompting.
3. Domino Sequence Accurately completes all 4 domino fill-in stems in logical order. Completes 2-3 dominoes; confuses greenhouse damage with shop alarm. Needs step-by-step re-reading to identify event sequence.
Conferencing Question:
"What word from the word bank tells what kind of person Maya is on the inside?"
RL.3.3 Supported Reader Standard Guide Page 2 of 2