Activity Overview
In this activity, students decide on what they think the important parts in the text are, and categorize them into the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Having students decide on the beginning, middle, and end will help them break up the text, and make it easier to choose one or two main events to create. Students can plan their ideas with a partner or individually, and decide what main parts they would like to add to their storyboard.
The storyboard above shows one example for the beginning, middle, and end, but you could set a number of frames for the students to use based on the ability of the student, or length of the text.
Example The Storm Summary
Beginning
Pandora and Seabold live solitary lives until a storm brings them together. Pandora saves Seabold and they become friends.
Middle
Seabold and Pandora enjoy each other's company and work together to tend to the lighthouse. One day they rescue three mice from a box floating aimlessly in the ocean.
End
Seabold, Pandora, and the three mice are happy. They are not lonely anymore; they are a family.
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
Make a storyboard summary of The Storm.
- Make a picture that shows the beginning of the story.
- Make a picture that shows the middle of the story.
- Make a picture that shows the end of the story.
- Write a sentence under each picture.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Events | Each of the cells represents a different part of the story. The cells are in order from beginning to end. | One cell is out of order, or the storyboard is missing important information. | Important information is missing and/or two or more cells are out of order. |
| Images | Cells include images that accurately show events in the story and do not get in the way of understanding. | Most images show the events of the story, but some are incorrect. | The images are unclear or do not make sense with the story. |
| Descriptions | Descriptions match the images and show the change over time. | Descriptions do not always match the images or mention the importance of the event. | Descriptions are missing or do not match the images. |
| 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 very difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
In this activity, students decide on what they think the important parts in the text are, and categorize them into the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Having students decide on the beginning, middle, and end will help them break up the text, and make it easier to choose one or two main events to create. Students can plan their ideas with a partner or individually, and decide what main parts they would like to add to their storyboard.
The storyboard above shows one example for the beginning, middle, and end, but you could set a number of frames for the students to use based on the ability of the student, or length of the text.
Example The Storm Summary
Beginning
Pandora and Seabold live solitary lives until a storm brings them together. Pandora saves Seabold and they become friends.
Middle
Seabold and Pandora enjoy each other's company and work together to tend to the lighthouse. One day they rescue three mice from a box floating aimlessly in the ocean.
End
Seabold, Pandora, and the three mice are happy. They are not lonely anymore; they are a family.
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
Make a storyboard summary of The Storm.
- Make a picture that shows the beginning of the story.
- Make a picture that shows the middle of the story.
- Make a picture that shows the end of the story.
- Write a sentence under each picture.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Events | Each of the cells represents a different part of the story. The cells are in order from beginning to end. | One cell is out of order, or the storyboard is missing important information. | Important information is missing and/or two or more cells are out of order. |
| Images | Cells include images that accurately show events in the story and do not get in the way of understanding. | Most images show the events of the story, but some are incorrect. | The images are unclear or do not make sense with the story. |
| Descriptions | Descriptions match the images and show the change over time. | Descriptions do not always match the images or mention the importance of the event. | Descriptions are missing or do not match the images. |
| 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 very difficult to understand. |
How Tos about The Storm Summary
Organize a class discussion on story structure before students create their storyboards
Lead a brief class conversation about the beginning, middle, and end of stories. This helps students recognize important plot points and prepares them to summarize effectively when making their own storyboard.
Model how to identify key story events using a think-aloud strategy
Read a short section aloud and pause to verbalize your thought process when identifying important events. This demonstrates how to pick out the main ideas students should include on their storyboard.
Provide sentence starters to support students in writing under each storyboard picture
Give students sentence frames like “In the beginning…”, “Then…”, and “Finally…” to help them structure their summaries and clearly connect the pictures to the story events.
Encourage peer feedback on completed storyboards
Have students share their storyboards with a partner or small group. Ask for constructive feedback on whether each section clearly shows the beginning, middle, and end, promoting collaboration and reflection.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Storm Summary
What is a simple summary of 'The Storm' for students?
'The Storm' is a story about Pandora and Seabold, who live alone until a storm brings them together. Pandora rescues Seabold, they become friends, rescue three mice, and form a happy family.
How can I teach the beginning, middle, and end of a story using 'The Storm'?
Have students identify and organize key events from 'The Storm' into the beginning, middle, and end. Use storyboards or drawings and add short sentences to help students break down and summarize the plot.
What are effective storyboard activities for 3rd or 4th graders?
Let students create a storyboard with three sections: beginning, middle, and end. Encourage them to draw pictures and write one sentence for each part to retell the important events of the story.
Why is breaking a story into parts helpful for students?
Dividing a story into beginning, middle, and end helps students understand structure, improves comprehension, and makes it easier to summarize or retell the main events.
What main events should be included in a summary of 'The Storm'?
Include Pandora and Seabold meeting after the storm, becoming friends, rescuing the mice, and all of them forming a family in the lighthouse.
More Storyboard That Activities
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