Activity Overview
A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a book. 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.
Even true stories, like memoirs, can have a plot arch. Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc of The Sunflower with a three-cell storyboard, containing the major parts of the plot diagram: the Exposition, the Climax, and the Resolution or a six-cell storyboard with Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. For each cell have students create a scene that shows their understanding of that part of the book and summarize their understanding.
The Sunflower Plot Diagram Example
Exposition
Simon and his friends Arthur, Josek, are prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp. They work cleaning up medical waste at a converted army hospital for wounded German soldiers. One day, on his way to work, Simon is stopped by a nurse, and taken to the bedside of a dying, young Nazi soldier.
Climax
Confused why he is there, Simon asks Karl what he wants with a Jew. Karl proceeds to tell him a story about atrocities he committed during his time serving as an SS soldier, primarily, how he set a building on fire with over many Jewish families inside, then shot them as they attempted to jump out the windows to escape the flames.
Resolution
After telling Simon what he had done, Karl asks for Simon’s forgiveness. Karl felt that the only way to die in peace was to clear his conscious and ask forgiveness from a Jew. However, Simon leaves the room without answering him. That night, Simon discusses the moral issue with friends in his barracks. The next day, when he returns, Karl is dead.
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 The Sunflower.
- 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 25 Points | Emerging 21 Points | Beginning 17 Points | Try Again 13 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive and Visual Elements | Cells have many descriptive elements, and provide the reader with a vivid representation. | Cells have many descriptive elements, but flow of cells may have been hard to understand. | Cells have few descriptive elements, or have visuals that make the work confusing. | Cells have few or no descriptive elements. |
| Grammar/Spelling | Textables have three or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have four or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have five or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have six or more spelling/grammar errors. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has done both peer and teacher editing. | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has either teacher or peer editing, but not both. | Student has done neither peer, nor teacher editing. | Work shows no evidence of any effort. |
| Plot | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram. | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram, but one or more is confusing. | Parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot difficult to follow. | Almost all of the parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot very difficult to follow. |
Activity Overview
A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a book. 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.
Even true stories, like memoirs, can have a plot arch. Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc of The Sunflower with a three-cell storyboard, containing the major parts of the plot diagram: the Exposition, the Climax, and the Resolution or a six-cell storyboard with Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. For each cell have students create a scene that shows their understanding of that part of the book and summarize their understanding.
The Sunflower Plot Diagram Example
Exposition
Simon and his friends Arthur, Josek, are prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp. They work cleaning up medical waste at a converted army hospital for wounded German soldiers. One day, on his way to work, Simon is stopped by a nurse, and taken to the bedside of a dying, young Nazi soldier.
Climax
Confused why he is there, Simon asks Karl what he wants with a Jew. Karl proceeds to tell him a story about atrocities he committed during his time serving as an SS soldier, primarily, how he set a building on fire with over many Jewish families inside, then shot them as they attempted to jump out the windows to escape the flames.
Resolution
After telling Simon what he had done, Karl asks for Simon’s forgiveness. Karl felt that the only way to die in peace was to clear his conscious and ask forgiveness from a Jew. However, Simon leaves the room without answering him. That night, Simon discusses the moral issue with friends in his barracks. The next day, when he returns, Karl is dead.
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 The Sunflower.
- 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 25 Points | Emerging 21 Points | Beginning 17 Points | Try Again 13 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive and Visual Elements | Cells have many descriptive elements, and provide the reader with a vivid representation. | Cells have many descriptive elements, but flow of cells may have been hard to understand. | Cells have few descriptive elements, or have visuals that make the work confusing. | Cells have few or no descriptive elements. |
| Grammar/Spelling | Textables have three or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have four or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have five or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have six or more spelling/grammar errors. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has done both peer and teacher editing. | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has either teacher or peer editing, but not both. | Student has done neither peer, nor teacher editing. | Work shows no evidence of any effort. |
| Plot | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram. | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram, but one or more is confusing. | Parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot difficult to follow. | Almost all of the parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot very difficult to follow. |
How Tos about The Sunflower Plot Diagram Activity
Incorporate plot diagram activities into group work
Encourage students to collaborate by assigning small groups to create their own plot diagrams on different sections of The Sunflower. Group work boosts engagement and helps students learn from each other's perspectives.
Assign group roles for effective collaboration
Designate roles such as illustrator, summarizer, and presenter within each group. Clear roles ensure everyone participates and leverages their strengths for a more comprehensive plot diagram.
Integrate discussion checkpoints during the activity
Pause at key moments so groups can discuss plot events and moral dilemmas together. Mid-activity discussions deepen understanding and encourage critical thinking about the story’s themes.
Facilitate group presentations of plot diagrams
Have each group present their plot diagram to the class and explain their artistic and literary choices. Presentations foster communication skills and allow students to see multiple interpretations of the same story.
Reflect on collaborative learning outcomes
Ask students to share what they learned from their group members and how teamwork affected their understanding of the plot. Reflection helps reinforce both plot structure knowledge and social-emotional skills.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Sunflower Plot Diagram Activity
What is a plot diagram for The Sunflower?
A plot diagram for The Sunflower visually maps out the main events of Simon Wiesenthal's memoir using sections like Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution, helping students understand narrative structure and key moments.
How can I create a Sunflower plot diagram with my students?
To create a Sunflower plot diagram, have students break the story into key plot parts, then use a storyboard template (3 or 6 cells) to draw scenes and write short summaries for each plot element, such as Exposition, Climax, and Resolution.
What are the main events in The Sunflower's plot diagram?
The main events include: Exposition (Simon and friends in the camp), Climax (the dying Nazi's confession), and Resolution (Simon's response and the soldier's death), with optional steps for Conflict, Rising and Falling Action.
Why use a plot diagram activity for teaching The Sunflower?
A plot diagram activity helps students visually organize and deepen comprehension of The Sunflower's structure, encourages discussion of moral dilemmas, and reinforces understanding of literary elements in memoirs.
What is the best way to explain the climax of The Sunflower to students?
The climax occurs when Karl, the dying Nazi soldier, confesses his crimes to Simon and asks for forgiveness, placing Simon in a powerful moral dilemma central to the memoir's themes.
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