Activity Overview
A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures. Sometimes students will really have to think carefully about which events are major turning points in the plot.
Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the book in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
Mr. Popper's Penguins Plot Diagram Example
Exposition
Mr. Popper is a house painter in the town of Stillwater. Mr. Popper is a dreamy sort of man who likes to think about exploring far off places. Admiral Drake, to whom Mr. Popper had sent a letter, sends a penguin as a gift. The penguin's name is Captain Cook and sleeps in the ice box.
Conflict
The cost of keeping the penguin is very high. The Poppers are not a wealthy family, but they care for Captain Cook. He does not seem to be doing well after a while, so Mr. Popper contacts an aquarium. They decide that the penguin is lonely and needs a companion. This second penguin, Greta arrives, and Mr. Popper installs a freezing machine, which strains the family budget even more.
Rising Action
Greta lays ten eggs! Usually, penguins don't lay that many, but extraordinary things happen in extraordinary circumstances. Now there will be twelve penguin mouths to feed!
Climax
The Poppers are having such a hard time paying for all of their expenses that Mr. Popper decides to train the penguins for performance. The Poppers and the penguins perform at various cities around the country. One day, they arrive at the wrong theater, and the theater owner has them all arrested for “disturbing the peace.”
Falling Action
Admiral Drake arrives and posts bail for Mr. Popper. Also, a Hollywood movie man offers to feature the penguins in the movies. Fearing that life in Hollywood would be too much for the penguins, Mr. Popper declines.
Resolution
Springtime is coming and the warm weather is not good for the penguins. Admiral Drake, Mr. Popper, and the penguins travel to the North Pole on an expedition to establish a penguin colony.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of Mr. Popper's Penguins.
- Separate the story into the Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
- Create an image that represents an important moment or set of events for each of the story components.
- Write a description of each of the steps in the plot diagram.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Cells include images that help to tell the story and do not get in the way of understanding. Descriptions match the images. | Descriptions do not always match the images. | Descriptions are missing or do not match the images. |
| Plot | Each of the six cells represents a different part of the story. The cells are in order from beginning to end. | Two cells or fewer are out of order, or the storyboard is missing important information. | Important information is missing and/or three or more cells are out of order. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding. | Spelling is very inaccurate and hinders full understanding. | Text is difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures. Sometimes students will really have to think carefully about which events are major turning points in the plot.
Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the book in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
Mr. Popper's Penguins Plot Diagram Example
Exposition
Mr. Popper is a house painter in the town of Stillwater. Mr. Popper is a dreamy sort of man who likes to think about exploring far off places. Admiral Drake, to whom Mr. Popper had sent a letter, sends a penguin as a gift. The penguin's name is Captain Cook and sleeps in the ice box.
Conflict
The cost of keeping the penguin is very high. The Poppers are not a wealthy family, but they care for Captain Cook. He does not seem to be doing well after a while, so Mr. Popper contacts an aquarium. They decide that the penguin is lonely and needs a companion. This second penguin, Greta arrives, and Mr. Popper installs a freezing machine, which strains the family budget even more.
Rising Action
Greta lays ten eggs! Usually, penguins don't lay that many, but extraordinary things happen in extraordinary circumstances. Now there will be twelve penguin mouths to feed!
Climax
The Poppers are having such a hard time paying for all of their expenses that Mr. Popper decides to train the penguins for performance. The Poppers and the penguins perform at various cities around the country. One day, they arrive at the wrong theater, and the theater owner has them all arrested for “disturbing the peace.”
Falling Action
Admiral Drake arrives and posts bail for Mr. Popper. Also, a Hollywood movie man offers to feature the penguins in the movies. Fearing that life in Hollywood would be too much for the penguins, Mr. Popper declines.
Resolution
Springtime is coming and the warm weather is not good for the penguins. Admiral Drake, Mr. Popper, and the penguins travel to the North Pole on an expedition to establish a penguin colony.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of Mr. Popper's Penguins.
- Separate the story into the Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
- Create an image that represents an important moment or set of events for each of the story components.
- Write a description of each of the steps in the plot diagram.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Cells include images that help to tell the story and do not get in the way of understanding. Descriptions match the images. | Descriptions do not always match the images. | Descriptions are missing or do not match the images. |
| Plot | Each of the six cells represents a different part of the story. The cells are in order from beginning to end. | Two cells or fewer are out of order, or the storyboard is missing important information. | Important information is missing and/or three or more cells are out of order. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding. | Spelling is very inaccurate and hinders full understanding. | Text is difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Mr. Popper\'s Penguins Summary
Use Storyboard That to Teach Character Development in Mr. Popper's Penguins
Highlight how students can track and visualize character growth throughout the story to deepen comprehension and engage diverse learners.
Choose key moments that reveal character change
Identify scenes where Mr. Popper or other characters learn, adapt, or show new traits. These turning points help students see how characters evolve over time.
Create a character-focused storyboard cell for each moment
Have students use Storyboard That to illustrate each key event from the character's perspective. Ask them to show facial expressions, body language, and actions that reflect the character’s growth.
Add captions explaining the character’s feelings or decisions
Encourage students to write brief captions describing what the character is thinking or feeling in each scene. This builds empathy and critical thinking.
Facilitate a class discussion comparing character journeys
Invite students to share their storyboards and discuss how Mr. Popper and other characters change. This helps everyone recognize different interpretations and supports collaborative learning.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mr. Popper\'s Penguins Summary
What is a plot diagram for Mr. Popper's Penguins?
A plot diagram for Mr. Popper's Penguins visually outlines the main events of the story using key elements: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. This helps students understand the narrative structure and major turning points in the book.
How can students create a storyboard for Mr. Popper's Penguins?
Students can create a storyboard by drawing or using digital tools to illustrate each part of the plot diagram—Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution—capturing important scenes from the book in sequence.
Why is teaching plot structure important in elementary reading lessons?
Teaching plot structure helps elementary students recognize how stories are organized, improves comprehension, and allows them to identify major events and turning points, making them stronger readers and writers.
What are the major events in Mr. Popper's Penguins?
Major events in Mr. Popper's Penguins include Mr. Popper receiving Captain Cook, the arrival of Greta, the birth of ten penguin chicks, the family’s financial struggles, training penguins for performances, getting arrested, and finally traveling to the North Pole to start a penguin colony.
What is an easy classroom activity for teaching Mr. Popper's Penguins plot?
An easy classroom activity is to have students create a six-cell storyboard that visually represents each stage of the plot diagram. This can be done individually or in pairs and helps reinforce story structure while engaging students creatively.
More Storyboard That Activities
Mr. Popper's Penguins
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