Story Peak Slides Story Peak Slides
Mapping the Journey of a Tale
Traveler's Guide to Plot
What's Wrong With This Story?
"The prince and princess lived happily ever after. But first, the dragon breathed fire on the castle. Then, the hero was born in a small village."
Does this make sense?
Stories have a order or sequence .
The Plot is the map of events.
The Story Mountain
1. Introduction
The Start
2. Rising Action
The Problem Grows
3. Climax
The Most Exciting Part
4. Falling Action
Things Wind Down
5. Resolution
The Ending
Traveler's Dictionary
Plot
The sequence of events that happen in a story.
Character
The people, animals, or creatures in a story.
Setting
Where and when the story takes place.
Theme
The big idea or lesson the author wants us to learn.
Ready to Climb?
Pick a story you know very well (like Little Red Riding Hood or The Three Little Pigs). We are going to map it on our own Story Mountains!
Let's Begin!
Story Mountain Worksheet Story Mountain Map
Name: ___________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
Story Title
Main Character(s)
Setting (Where/When)
3
The Climax
2
Rising Action
Falling Action
4
1
Introduction
Resolution
5
The Big Lesson
What did the character learn at the end of the mountain climb?
Story Mountain Answer Key Story Mountain Key
Teacher Resource • Example: "The Three Little Pigs"
Plot Phase Example Content (The Three Little Pigs) 1. Introduction Three little pigs leave home to build their own houses. We meet the Wolf. 2. Rising Action The Wolf blows down the straw house and the stick house. The pigs run to the brick house. The Wolf tries to blow the brick house down but fails. 3. Climax The Wolf climbs up the roof to go down the chimney! 4. Falling Action The Wolf falls into a pot of boiling water and burns his tail. He runs away forever. 5. Resolution The three pigs live safely together in the brick house.
Common Misconception
Students often think the Climax is just "the middle." Remind them it is the "Peak of Excitement" or the moment of the biggest choice.
Guided Question
"If we took this event out of the story, would the ending still be the same?" (Helps identify the Climax).
Hidden Lessons Slides Hidden Lessons Slides
Finding the Heart of a Fable
Discovery Guide #2
Ever Heard This?
"Don't cry over spilled milk!"
Does it mean literally cleaning up milk? Or something more?
The Lesson: Don't waste time being sad about things you cannot change.
Stories do the same thing! They use characters and actions to teach us a "Big Lesson" or Moral .
The Secret Recipe of a Fable
Characters
Usually talking animals that act like humans.
Conflict
Someone makes a mistake or a choice.
The Moral
The lesson the character learns at the end.
Clue Hunting
The Story:
The Hare was so fast he stopped to take a nap. The Tortoise was very slow but he never stopped . The Tortoise won the race!
What is the Moral?
Winning is only for fast people.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Napping is a good idea.
Proverb Match-Up
Time to be story detectives! Can you match the world's most famous fables to the lessons they teach?
Open Your Activity Packs
Fable Matcher Worksheet Fable Lesson Matcher
Name: ___________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
Directions: Read each short story summary below. Then, match it to the correct "Moral of the Story" by writing the letter in the box.
1. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
A boy repeatedly tricked the villagers by shouting that a wolf was attacking his sheep. When a real wolf actually came, the villagers didn't believe him and stayed home.
2. The Ant and the Grasshopper
The Ant worked hard all summer to store food. The Grasshopper spent the summer singing and playing. When winter came, the Grasshopper was hungry and had nothing to eat.
3. The Lion and the Mouse
A Lion spared a tiny Mouse's life. Later, the Lion was caught in a hunter's net. The tiny Mouse chewed through the ropes to free the mighty Lion.
Moral Bank
A
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
B
It is best to prepare today for the needs of tomorrow.
C
If you lie often, people will not believe you when you tell the truth.
Your Turn
Can you think of a time when one of these lessons was true in your life? Describe it briefly.
Cinderella Variants Slides Cinderella World Tour
Same Story, Different Lands
Cultural Detective Slides
Whose Shoe is This?
Glass Slipper
France
Golden Sandal
China
Moccasin
North America
Can three different shoes tell the same story?
Spot the Difference
Cultural Markers
Authors use Cultural Markers to show us where a story comes from.
Clothing & Outfits
Food & Meals
Setting & Houses
Local Animals
Be a Detective!
As we read Yeh-Shen and The Rough-Face Girl , look for these clues to find their home.
Same Heart, Different Skin
The Hero/Heroine
A kind person who is treated unfairly.
Magic Helper
A fairy godmother, a magic fish, or a spirit.
The Big Event
A ball, a festival, or a meeting.
Your Flight is Boarding!
Grab your "Cultural Detective" logs. We are heading to Ancient China and the shores of Lake Ontario to meet two new friends.
Read: Yeh-Shen
Read: The Rough-Face Girl
Cultural Detective Log Cultural Detective Log
Name: ___________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
"Good detectives look for clues! As we read our Cinderella stories, write down the 'Cultural Markers' you find for each one."
Story A: Yeh-Shen
Location: Ancient China
The Magic Helper (Who?)
Cultural Marker: Food
Cultural Marker: Clothes
The Ending
Story B: Rough-Face Girl
Location: North America (Algonquin)
The Magic Helper (Who?)
Cultural Marker: Setting/Home
Cultural Marker: Clothes
The Ending
The Common Thread
Even though the settings and clothes are different, what is one thing that is the same in both stories?
Venn Diagram Slides Venn Diagram Mastery
Finding Where Stories Meet
The Power of Comparison
The Human Venn Diagram
Student A
Blue Shirt
Wearing Glasses
Loves Soccer
Student B
Red Shirt
Has a Cat
Loves Soccer
What is the Same ? What is Unique ?
Mapping Differences & Similarities
UNIQUE
Only in Story A
UNIQUE
Only in Story B
Both Stories
The Similarities
Sorting Our Clues
Where do these go?
Magic Fish Kind Heroine Mean Stepsisters Magic Spirit Lost Shoe Moccasins
Strategy Tip:
First, look for things that happen in BOTH stories. Write those in the middle! Then, fill in the parts that are DIFFERENT on the outside.
Circle Challenge
Now it's your turn to be a Master Organizer. Use your Detective Logs to complete the Cinderella Circle Challenge!
Start Sorting!
Venn Comparison Worksheet The Circle Challenge
Name: ___________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
"Use your Detective Logs to sort the story elements! Write what is only in Yeh-Shen on the left, only in The Rough-Face Girl on the right, and what they share in the middle."
Yeh-Shen
(Only Story A)
Rough-Face Girl
(Only Story B)
Both Stories
Similarities
The Biggest Similarity
Look at the middle of your diagram. What do you think is the most important thing these two cultures share?
Showcase Project Slides World Storyteller Showcase
Your Voice, Your Story, Your World
Final Presentation Project
Where Does Your Story Come From?
We have traveled to France , China , and Ancient North America . Now, it's time for you to lead the way!
"Every culture has stories that teach us who we are."
Your Three Tasks
1. Choose
Pick a story from your family, your culture, or a new place!
2. Map
Use your Story Mountain skills to find the Climax and the Moral.
3. Present
Tell the class about your story and how it's like our class tales.
Making Connections
As you present, you will tell the class:
What is the Moral?
What are the Cultural Markers?
How is it DIFFERENT from Cinderella?
How is it the SAME?
Showtime Prep
Grab your "Global Storyteller Roadmap." It's time to find the treasure in your own heritage or a culture you love.
Open Your Project Roadmap
Storyteller Roadmap Worksheet Global Storyteller Roadmap
Name: ___________________________________
Country/Region: __________________________
1
Choose Your Story
Story Title
Why did you pick this story?
2
Cultural Markers
What clues show where this story is from? (Clothes, Food, Animals, Land)
3
The Moral
What is the big lesson the story teaches?
4
How does it compare?
Same as Cinderella / Class Story:
Different from Cinderella / Class Story:
Presentation Checklist
I can name the characters.
I can explain the problem.
I can show 1 cultural marker.
I can state the moral.
