Activity Overview
A good way to help your students understand the book as a whole is to have them summarize each chapter first. Creating a summary storyboard for each chapter will help the students determine the importance and visualize the chapter explicitly. Then, as a class, or in groups, the students can decide on an overall summary of the book, and how they think the characters and the plot evolved.
In this activity, students will work independently or in groups. Each group/student will be assigned a specific chapter to work on. Students will review the chapter and decide on the beginning, middle, and end. They will choose the major moments that affect the plot and the outcome of the story.
Example Summary: Chapter 1: The Pudding Like a Night on the Sea
Beginning
Julian and his brother, Huey, watch in awe, as their father makes a delicious pudding for their mother. They help whenever he directs them.
Middle
The father goes for a nap, and tells the boys to leave the pudding alone. As the boys are guarding the pudding, Huey decides to stick his finger in and taste it. Then Julian does the same. They eventually end up eating almost the whole pudding! They run and hide under their bed.
End
The father wakes up and finds out the boys ate the pudding! He pulls them from under the bed and says he is going to punish them. He has the boys make the pudding again, all by themselves. The boys learn that making the pudding is really hard work.
Example Summary: Chapter 2: Because of Figs
Beginning
One birthday, Julian is given his own fig tree. His dad tells him it will "grow as fast as you grow". They plant it and it starts to grow. Julian becomes upset that the tree is growing, but he is not.
Middle
Julian started eating the leaves on the fig tree in hopes to grow. Every time a new leaf came, he ate it. Soon, Julian was growing. The tree did not grow for two more years, even though the Julian's dad tried everything to get it to grow. His dad wanted to get rid of this tree and get a new one. Julian refused.
End
Julian realizes that the tree is not growing because he is eating the leaves. He apologizes to the tree and stops eating the leaves. He dreams that with all the new leaves, his tree will grow as big as the house.
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 a chapter in The Stories Julian Tells.
- Make a picture that shows the beginning of the chapter.
- Make a picture that shows the middle of the chapter.
- Make a picture that shows the end of the chapter.
- 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
A good way to help your students understand the book as a whole is to have them summarize each chapter first. Creating a summary storyboard for each chapter will help the students determine the importance and visualize the chapter explicitly. Then, as a class, or in groups, the students can decide on an overall summary of the book, and how they think the characters and the plot evolved.
In this activity, students will work independently or in groups. Each group/student will be assigned a specific chapter to work on. Students will review the chapter and decide on the beginning, middle, and end. They will choose the major moments that affect the plot and the outcome of the story.
Example Summary: Chapter 1: The Pudding Like a Night on the Sea
Beginning
Julian and his brother, Huey, watch in awe, as their father makes a delicious pudding for their mother. They help whenever he directs them.
Middle
The father goes for a nap, and tells the boys to leave the pudding alone. As the boys are guarding the pudding, Huey decides to stick his finger in and taste it. Then Julian does the same. They eventually end up eating almost the whole pudding! They run and hide under their bed.
End
The father wakes up and finds out the boys ate the pudding! He pulls them from under the bed and says he is going to punish them. He has the boys make the pudding again, all by themselves. The boys learn that making the pudding is really hard work.
Example Summary: Chapter 2: Because of Figs
Beginning
One birthday, Julian is given his own fig tree. His dad tells him it will "grow as fast as you grow". They plant it and it starts to grow. Julian becomes upset that the tree is growing, but he is not.
Middle
Julian started eating the leaves on the fig tree in hopes to grow. Every time a new leaf came, he ate it. Soon, Julian was growing. The tree did not grow for two more years, even though the Julian's dad tried everything to get it to grow. His dad wanted to get rid of this tree and get a new one. Julian refused.
End
Julian realizes that the tree is not growing because he is eating the leaves. He apologizes to the tree and stops eating the leaves. He dreams that with all the new leaves, his tree will grow as big as the house.
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 a chapter in The Stories Julian Tells.
- Make a picture that shows the beginning of the chapter.
- Make a picture that shows the middle of the chapter.
- Make a picture that shows the end of the chapter.
- 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 Stories Julian Tells Visual Summary
Incorporate character analysis into storyboard activities for deeper comprehension
Add a character analysis step by having students choose one character to focus on in their storyboard. Ask them to show how the character changes from the beginning to the end of the chapter. This helps students connect the character’s actions and feelings to the plot, building deeper understanding of character development.
Guide students to use direct quotes to support their storyboard scenes
Encourage students to include a direct quote from the chapter under at least one of their storyboard pictures. This practice reinforces text evidence skills and helps students make their summaries more accurate and insightful.
Model how to draw simple, expressive storyboard images to boost confidence
Demonstrate drawing quick, basic illustrations on the board and show how to use facial expressions or simple backgrounds to convey key moments. Remind students that art skill doesn’t matter—clarity and creativity count the most!
Facilitate group sharing and discussion to compare storyboards
Organize a class gallery walk or small group share-out where students present their storyboards. Encourage peers to ask questions or note similarities and differences in how each student interpreted the chapter, building comprehension and speaking skills.
Provide feedback that highlights strong summarizing and visualization
Give specific praise for clear summaries and creative illustrations, and gently suggest improvements. Highlight how students captured main events or character changes to reinforce effective summarizing strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Stories Julian Tells Visual Summary
How can I teach students to summarize each chapter of The Stories Julian Tells?
Have students create a summary storyboard for each chapter. Ask them to identify the beginning, middle, and end, and illustrate key moments. This helps students understand story structure and main events.
What is a storyboard summary activity for The Stories Julian Tells?
A storyboard summary activity involves students drawing pictures to represent the start, middle, and end of a chapter, then writing a sentence under each. This visual approach helps students break down and retell the story in their own words.
Why are summary storyboards effective for 3rd and 4th grade students?
Summary storyboards combine visual and written learning, making it easier for younger students to grasp plot structure, recall details, and express comprehension. They also encourage creative thinking and group collaboration.
What are the steps to create a chapter summary for The Stories Julian Tells?
First, assign a chapter to each student or group. Next, have them read the chapter, identify the beginning, middle, and end, and select the most important events. Then, students draw a picture for each section and write a sentence to summarize it.
Can students work in groups for The Stories Julian Tells summary activity?
Yes, students can work individually or in groups to create chapter summaries. Group work promotes discussion, deeper understanding, and collaborative skills.
More Storyboard That Activities
Stories Julian Tells, The
This Activity is Part of Many Teacher Guides
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
