Activity Overview
Creating a plot diagram not only helps students learn the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop greater understanding of literary structures. 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. In this activity, students will create a visual plot diagram of major events in The Night Diary. Students should identify major turning points in the novel such as the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
The Night Diary Plot Diagram Example
Exposition: The story takes place in 1947 in India, after it has become free from Britain. Tensions between the Hindus and the Muslims are high. Twelve-year-old Nisha, her twin brother Amil, their Papa, and their Dadi must flee from their home amidst the riots and violence, leaving behind their home and the lives that they once knew.
Rising Action: Nisha and her family pack up a small amount of their belongings and supplies and set out on foot towards Jodhpur, leaving Kazi behind for everyone’s safety.
Climax: After almost not surviving due to lack of food and water, the family finally arrives at uncle Rashid’s home to stay for a while.
Falling Action: Nisha befriends a Muslim neighborhood girl, and tells her that they are Hindu and staying with their Muslim uncle. Papa fears for their safety and the family must leave immediately.
Resolution: The family arrives at their apartment in Jodhpur and settles into their new life. Kazi makes the journey by himself and finds the family, and they are all together again.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a visual plot diagram of The Night Diary.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Separate the story into the Title, Exposition, 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 using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of each of the examples in the plot diagram.
- Save and exit when you're done.
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
Creating a plot diagram not only helps students learn the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop greater understanding of literary structures. 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. In this activity, students will create a visual plot diagram of major events in The Night Diary. Students should identify major turning points in the novel such as the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
The Night Diary Plot Diagram Example
Exposition: The story takes place in 1947 in India, after it has become free from Britain. Tensions between the Hindus and the Muslims are high. Twelve-year-old Nisha, her twin brother Amil, their Papa, and their Dadi must flee from their home amidst the riots and violence, leaving behind their home and the lives that they once knew.
Rising Action: Nisha and her family pack up a small amount of their belongings and supplies and set out on foot towards Jodhpur, leaving Kazi behind for everyone’s safety.
Climax: After almost not surviving due to lack of food and water, the family finally arrives at uncle Rashid’s home to stay for a while.
Falling Action: Nisha befriends a Muslim neighborhood girl, and tells her that they are Hindu and staying with their Muslim uncle. Papa fears for their safety and the family must leave immediately.
Resolution: The family arrives at their apartment in Jodhpur and settles into their new life. Kazi makes the journey by himself and finds the family, and they are all together again.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a visual plot diagram of The Night Diary.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Separate the story into the Title, Exposition, 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 using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of each of the examples in the plot diagram.
- Save and exit when you're done.
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 The Night Diary Visual Summary
Engage students with creative character analysis activities
Boost understanding by diving deeper into characters' motivations, feelings, and growth throughout The Night Diary. Character analysis helps students connect with the story and build empathy.
Assign each student a key character to explore
Give students a main or supporting character from the novel. Ask them to focus on this character's actions, emotions, and development as they read.
Have students keep a character journal
Encourage students to jot down important moments, quotes, and changes related to their character using a notebook or digital document. This promotes close reading and reflection.
Facilitate small group discussions on character growth
Organize groups by character or scene. Invite students to share journal entries and discuss how their characters respond to the story's major events. Collaboration builds deeper insights!
Create a visual character map as a class
Work together to chart character traits, relationships, and changes on the board or in a digital tool. Visualizing connections helps everyone see the bigger picture.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Night Diary Visual Summary
What is a plot diagram for The Night Diary?
A plot diagram for The Night Diary is a visual tool that helps students map out the story’s key events, including the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It aids in understanding the narrative structure and main turning points of the novel.
How can I teach students to create a visual summary of The Night Diary?
To teach students to create a visual summary of The Night Diary, guide them in dividing the story into plot diagram parts, then have them illustrate each section—like exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution—with brief descriptions and images representing important events.
What are the main events in The Night Diary's plot?
The main events in The Night Diary include the family’s escape from their home during the 1947 India Partition, their journey to Jodhpur, facing hardships, finding shelter with relatives, making new friends, and eventually reuniting and settling into a new life.
Why is using a storyboard effective for teaching plot structure?
Using a storyboard helps students visually organize and better understand the plot structure by breaking down complex narratives into manageable parts, reinforcing comprehension, and aiding memory through images and concise descriptions.
What are some tips for helping 4th–6th graders create a plot diagram for a novel?
Tips include: breaking the story into clear sections, using simple language, encouraging students to pick the most important moments, letting them use drawings or digital images, and guiding them to write short, descriptive summaries for each plot element.
More Storyboard That Activities
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