Plot Diagram Notes and Lesson with Pixar Film

Guide your students through plot diagram or let students guide themselves with this scaffolded activity on Google Slides!

After watching the "Day and Night" Pixar short film, students will be introduced to the basics of a plot diagram. This activity includes the following:

- Simplified & Easy to Read Notes on Plot Diagram Basics (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution).

- Interactive Slides for students to type, drag, and match

- Pixar Short Film Link

- Formative Review Slides

Students will start by the Pixar short film, and they will break down the beginning, middle, and end of the film. Then, students will be introduced to the plot diagram vocabulary. After learning about each part of the plot diagram, students will find that portion of the plot diagram from the video. At the end, students will have a review on the terms and will be asked to label the plot diagram.

This activity can be used as a mini-lesson, whole- class lesson, remediation, or independent work. I have utilized this activity in a regular education classroom, a co-teaching classroom, and in a Resource Language Arts classroom in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classrooms. This assignment would also be suitable as an introduction to plot diagram for upper elementary (4th and 5th grades) or would work as a review for high school underclassmen (9th & 10th grade).