MINI-CLIMAXES or DRAMATIC EVENTS are things that happen to characters along the way as the plot rises towards the climax. This is something that happens to begin the rising action. The INCITING INCIDENT is similar to the hook, but usually occurs after it. The HOOK is an event at the beginning of a story that grabs the readers’ attention. You can add them to your chart, particularly for older grades. There are some elements of a plot that are most often not included in an anchor chart. This gives wonderful opportunities to include obstacles in the way (representing conflicts) and getting past the objects (solutions).

You could use the image of a game of Snakes and Ladders, where the plot rises with the ladders, but snakes cause blockages in the flow of the story, representing conflict.Īn obvious image to use that represents the plot structure is a map of a journey. Once the top (climax) has been reached, the water slide is the falling action, which ends in the pool of water at the end (resolution).

The spirals are events and consequences that occur on the journey. Try, for example, using the image of a spiral staircase that goes up to a water slide. You can vary the graphic that is used and still present the structure of a plot clearly. There is a spiky mountain, a rounded hill and even a roller coaster. If you look at some of the resources I have included below, you will see a few variations of the ‘mountain’ profile of the plot structure. You can present the same content in different ways, though, which will engage the students’ attention. This is why most anchor charts and, in fact, any resources that teach plot, feature the characteristic ‘mountain’ shaped ‘picture’ of the development of the plot. The key to a well-crafted plot is the inclusion of the five elements, in the correct order. Different ways of presenting plot in anchor charts It can also be more complicated, with the rising action line showing small spikes, which represent dramatic events along the way. This may be simple, where the structure is represented as a straight line forming a triangle. A graphic representation of the structure of a plot.The concept of Beginning, Middle and End.There are certain elements that a good plot anchor chart should include: Plot Anchor Chart Resources from TeachSimple.Different ways of presenting plot in anchor charts.Key elements of a good plot anchor chart.In this post, you’ll learn about the elements of a plot and how they are used in plot anchor charts. It’s a really great image, and one you can use to teach about the structure of a plot. I have a habit of comparing facing a challenge to climbing a mountain.

Story elements anchor chart 4th grade