Lesson Plan Guide

Teacher Candidate: Daniel Banks Date: 10-1-14

Grade and Topic: 5
th
grade Reading/ELA Length of Lesson: 2 - 50 minutes
Mentor Teacher: N/A School: N/A

UNIT/CHAPTER OBJECTIVE/GENERALIZATION/BIG IDEA:
Student will analyze fictional text and identify characters, problems/solutions, events, etc. to understand
plot.

LESSON OBJECTIVE:
Students will identify characters, problems, resolution and other events in fictional text using the Freytag
Pyramid.
STANDARDS ADDRESSED:
RL.5.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on
specific details in the text (e.g. how characters interact).
ISTE 3 Research and information fluency. Select and apply digital tools to collect, organize, and
analyze data to evaluate theories or test hypotheses.
MATERIALS:
Freytag Model on a handout for students to use for their plot diagrams.
Students will choose a fictional text from a list presented by the teacher.
Students will use a computer with Microsoft PowerPoint to make product.

BACKGROUND and RATIONALE:
Learning plot structure will help students to understand literature in future reading.
Plotting the story on a graph helps students to understand tension between problem and resolution.
Allowing students choice of stories to analyze contributes to student engagement.
PowerPoint assignment will engage students with a technology format and set an expectation of
sequence that is embedded in the format.
Differentiated activities will include aids for students who are struggling. The Freytag Model will be
different for students who are struggling with the concept. The sheet will include the Freytag model with
guiding questions to assist with plotting the story on the graph. Students can be paired with other
students who have grasped the concepts better and the teacher can assist the students with the
PowerPoint assignment.

PROCEDURES AND TIMELINE:
Introduction: Will hook the students by asking them questions about a popular movie, The Lion King.
Have volunteers from the class answer questions about characters, problems, and events. Co-construct
with the class the main character, the main problem, and the solution. Tell students that this story and
most other fiction will have a plot structure that can be graphed using The Freytag Pyramid, which can
be used to analyze fictional books, movies, television shows, graphic novels, etc. (5 min.). Questions
posed would be: 1) Who is the main character? 2) How can we decide what the main problem of the
story is?
Problem Statement: How could you predict the end of a story that you havent finished yet? How do you know
when the action is over?
Procedures: Introduce The Freytag Pyramid to students by projection or by drawing it on the board, and
distribute handout with unlabeled Freytag Pyramid. Label and describe the points of the graphic as a
whole group (5 min.). Now, using the information that we have already discussed, specify the details of
The Lion King on the pyramid. Emphasize that each detail must fit somewhere on the model because the
model will accommodate many media formats and fictional stories of all varieties (5 min.). Use
multiple-choice questions on the projector and have students record answers to questions on plot
structure and The Freytag Pyramid. Assess answers to gather data on comprehension of skill (5-10 min.).
Once students have shown mastery of The Freytag Pyramid, prompt students to think about other
famous fictional stories. Each student should pick their own well-known fictional story from a list
provided, and identify the characters, problems, and resolutions for a specific story. (Summaries of
famous fairytales will be provided). Students will complete The Freytag model again, but using details
particular to the story that each has chosen (15-20 min.). Students will have time at the lab to complete
the PowerPoint assignment.
Second 50 Minute Session - Instructor will show students how to use PowerPoint features to plot eachs
Freytag Model. The instructor will demonstrate the plotting the story diagram for the students. Half of
the students will be looking for pictures while the teachers shows students how to set up the PowerPoint
assignment while the other half will use computers to search Google images for images that depict the
parts of the particular story and copy them into PowerPoint. (10 min). The class will switch and the
previous step will be repeated (10 min). Students will spend the rest of the time organizing the graphics
to fit the Freytag model and adding the sequence of the images to PowerPoint. Teacher will work with
students who need assistance during this stage (15 min.).
Closure: Use guiding questions to prompt students to think about the sequencing that each has used for
images and plot structure during both sessions (5-10 min.).





ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE:
C.F.U. (check for understanding) will be an example question on the Freytag Pyramid in relation to The
Lion King that students record answers on a notecard. The question will be prompting students to use
details of the story to explain the plot structure and identifying characters, problems and solutions.
Summative assessment will be the Freytag pyramid planning sheet for the first session and the
PowerPoint document for the second session.


MODIFICATIONS:
Students who did not master the objective will work with the teacher, as the teacher re-teaches.
Struggling students can also be paired up with students who have shown mastery or the teacher will
assist students with the beginning steps of the research assignment.