Teacher: Meg Strauss Date: February 1th, 2016

School: Holyoke Junior High School Grade Level: 8th

Content Area: English
Title: Plot the Story Lesson #:_3_ of _16_

Colorado State Standards Addressed:

Standard 2.1.a.ii: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters,
setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
Standard 2.1.c.iii: Use graphic organizers and note-taking formats while reading to
map relationships among implied or explicit ideas or viewpoints
Understandings:
Students will understand the importance of using the traditional story plot in
personal memoirs.
Inquiry Questions:
How is the story plot shown in the personal memoir The Polka Dotted Scarf by
Geetanjali Jha? Why is using the story plot important in telling a personal
experience?
Evidence Outcomes: (Learning Targets)
I can: analyze Geetanjali Jhas usage of the story plot in her text The Polka Dotted
Scarf.
This means: I can understand the importance of using the story plot when writing
my own personal memoir.

List of Assessments:
- Students will work in their writing circles and will make a graphic organizer
that highlights the story plot used in Geetanjali Jhas text titled The Polka
Dotted Scarf.
- Students will turn in an exit slip reflecting on if they thought the Jhas text
was organized in an effective manner.

Planned Lesson Activities

Name and Purpose of Lesson Name: Story Plot

Purpose: Students will learn the importance of following the

 traditional story plot within a personal memoir.
Approx. Time and Materials
Duration of Unit: 50 minutes

Materials: The Polka Dotted Scarf by Geetanjali Jha, computer to

play Elements of a Plot, colored paper, markers, colored pencils,
stickers

Anticipatory Set Students will watch the video Elements of the Plot. Students
will take notes on the video. The video can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH5jlkK4aUI
Procedures Teacher Actions Student Actions

1. 5 minutes- 1. 5 minutes-
Announcements Actively listen to
Question announcements.
attendance: Answer attendance question
If you could be
anyone for a day,
who would it be?

2. 5 minutes- 2. 5 minutes-
Play the video Watch the video Elements of
Elements of the the Plot
Plot to refresh If you have forgotten elements
students memory of the story plot, take notes in
on the traditional order to ensure your success
story plot structure. on the upcoming activity.
Encourage students
to take notes while
watching the video

3. 10 minutes- 3. 10 minutes
Pass out the short Actively listen as the teacher
story The Polka reads the short story The
Dotted Scarf. Polka Dotted Scarf
Read the story out Get into groups of four to five.
loud to students
Tell students to get
into groups of four
to five.

4. 15 minutes 4. 15 minutes
Tell students to With your group, create a
make a graphic graphic organizer that
organizer that illustrates the plot evident in
illustrates the plot The Polka Dotted Scarf
in The Polka
Dotted Scarf
Tell students that
 they will present
their groups
graphic organizer
to the class, and
the group with the
best graphic
organizer will win a
prize provided by 5. 5 minutes
you With your group, present your
5. 10 minutes graphic organizer.
Allow each group to When you group is not
present their presenting, pay close attention
graphic organizer. to the other groups who
Once every group present.
has presented, tell Vote for your favorite graphic
students to put organizer that is not your own
their heads down
on their desk and
vote for their
favorite graphic
organizer (make
sure to state that
they cannot vote
for their own)
Once the favorite
graphic organizer
has been voted
upon, hand out 6. 5 minutes-
pieces of candy to Get out a piece of paper for an
the group with the exit ticket
winning organizer Write down why you think it is
6. 5 minutes- important to use the traditional
Tell students to get story plot in personal memoirs
out a piece of Turn in your exit slip to the
paper for an exit teacher
ticket Pack up to go to your next
Have students class
reflect on why they
think using the
traditional story
plot in personal
memoirs is
important
Have students turn
in their exit ticket

Closure Students will be asked to write an exit slip that answers the
question, Why do you think it is important to use the traditional
 story plot in a personal memoir?
Assessment Students will complete a graphic organizer to ensure their
understanding of the traditional story plot. Students will turn in an
exit ticket that has them reflect on why it is important to use the
story plot in a personal memoir.

Notes to Self - In order to connect yesterdays lesson to todays lesson,

tell students to put the themes and topics evident in the
story on their graphic organizers.