These activity sheets will teach your students about the different components of story plots.

The literary term plot is used to sum up all the major events that take place throughout a story. This is often in the form of a major conflict or struggle between characters or their environment. The plot normal follows a sequence or pattern. Depending on the work the pattern may be predictable. Most highly esteemed works will have an unpredictable plot or at least a twist that was not easy for the reader to see coming. The plot normally ends in some form of resolution. Even stories that are carried over several works will form a resolution on sub-plots before ending a work. Most stories follow the same basic structure. They start by introducing the characters, setting, and central conflict (exposition), contain events that build in scope (rising action) until the "big event" (climax), after which, various conflicts are dealt with (falling action) until the end, where the lessons are learned or all conflicts are dealt with (resolution).

These worksheets will have your students mapping essential elements of children's stories and fables to this pattern. Students will be required to pinpoint actions in very well-known works. We ask students to identify the exposition where a great deal of background information is shared. They will then identify the rising action where the main challenge is identified. The middle of the work will often result in a climax where tensions are their highest. As the resolution starts to take shape a falling action is able to be found. The story normally will end in a resolution to the conflict or challenge. Answer keys are provided as you might find them very helpful when grading. Fun Project Idea: Have your students bring in their favorite books or stories and perform the same exercise, and present the result to the class.



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Print Plot Worksheets

Click the buttons to print each worksheet and associated answer key.

Three Bears Worksheet

Goldy Locks and the Three Bears

Below are the main components of Goldy Locks and the Three Bears. Place each component where it belongs on the Plot Diagram by placing its number in the circle.

Gingerbread Man Worksheet

The Plot of Gingerbread Man

Which is it? 1. The gingerbread man came to a river that he could not cross.   2. An old woman who lived in a cottage baked a gingerbread man. 3. The fox ate the gingerbread man.

Henny Penny Worksheet

The Plot of Henny Penny

Where do these fit into the scheme of the story? 1. Foxy Loxy told them that he would show them a shortcut to the king. 2. She ran to tell the king that the sky was falling. 3. She turned around and went back to her farmyard, never to give the king her message. 4. Henny Penny and all of her friends ran into Foxy Loxy who said he wanted to go with them.

Little Red Hen Worksheet

The Little Red Hen

1. The little red hen ate the bread all by herself, enjoying every bite. 2. The little red hen did all the work while the other three lazed around all day and refused to help. 3. When the bread was done, the pig, the duck, and the cat all said that they were ready to eat it. 4. The pig, the duck, and the cat refused to help plant the corn.

Three Little Pigs Worksheet

The Three Little Pigs Plot

Place each component where it belongs on the Plot Diagram by placing its number in the circle. For example: 1. The first pig built his house of straw, and the big bad wolf came and blew it down. 2. The big bad wolf got mad about the pigs tricking him, so he decided to go down the chimney of the pigs' brick house and eat them for dinner. 3. The first pig went to live with the second pig, whose home was built of sticks, until the big bad wolf blew it down also.

### Worksheet

The Plot of Little Red Riding Hood

1. Little Red Riding Hood met a wolf in the woods and told him that she was going to visit her grandmother. 2. Little Red Riding Hood arrived for her visit, not realizing that it was the wolf dressed as her grandmother. 3. A woodsman heard her scream, came to rescue her, and made the wolf spit out the grandmother.

Rumpelstiltskin Worksheet

The Plot of Rumpelstiltskin

1. Once she was Queen, she had a baby that the little man came to get. 2. A miller told the King that his daughter could spin straw into gold; therefore, the King asked that she be brought to the palace and show what she could do. 3. The little man told her that she had three days to guess his name, or the baby became his.

Tortoise and the Hare Worksheet

The Tortoise and the Hare- What's the Deal?

The Old Slow and Steady Wins the Race!

Princess and the Pea Worksheet

The Princess and the Pea Worksheet

1. When asked how she slept, she said that she felt something hard under her and was black and blue from it. 2. A prince wanted to marry a real princess, but was unable to find one. 3. The queen decided to test her and see if she was a real princess.

Needle In Haystack Worksheet

Cinderella- Needle In Haystack

A classic tale of finding a needle in a haystack.

How to Determine the Plot of a Story

We all have stories inside of us just waiting to be told. The challenging part is understanding how to start telling them. Many people begin by determining the plot of the tale. This can be a daunting task, but you can figure out where your narrative is going and how it will unfold with a few simple steps.

Understanding The Concept

A plot is basically what happens over the course of tale. It's the sequence of events that occur, and it's often used to build suspense or keep the reader engaged. A good scheme should have a beginning, middle, and end, and it should flow smoothly from one event to the next.

It is also important because it can help reveal the storyteller's theme or message. For example, a story about a character who goes through a difficult journey might be trying to teach the reader about perseverance.

Understanding the plot can also help a reader appreciate the deeper narrative that was put in motion by the author. Knowing how all the pieces fit together can better understand the characters, their motivations, and the story's overall purpose.

Essential Elements

No matter what type of tale you're telling, certain elements need to be in place to be a successful writing scheme. First, you need exposition - this is the part of the story where you introduce the characters and setting and provide any necessary background information.

Then, you need rising action - this is where the conflict starts to build, and the stakes start to get higher. Finally, you need resolution - this is where the conflict is resolved, and the story comes to an end. Without these three essential elements, your plan will likely fall flat. So if you're looking to craft a gripping plot, make sure you keep these elements in mind.

Determining It Based on Characters & Setting

The first step is to understand what the story is about. The main character, or protagonist, will drive the action forward and face the main conflict that was put in place. Once you have your protagonist, you'll need to determine their goals. What are they trying to achieve? What's standing in their way? This is where the plot begins to take shape.

From there, you'll need to decide on the story's setting. Where does it take place? Is it a familiar place or somewhere completely new? How does the location affect the characters and the course of the story? All of these elements - the characters, their goals, and the setting - will come together to form the plot of your story.

Interesting Devices That Authors Use

If you're stuck in a writing rut, never fear! There are many different plot devices you can use to help move your narrative forward in interesting ways. For example, you could have a character find a mysterious object that turns out to be key to the story's resolution.

Or you could have a character receive a cryptic message that leads them on a journey to uncover a long-hidden secret. Whatever direction your story takes, using plot devices can help to keep things exciting and keep your readers engaged.

Final Words

So, you want to write a story? Congratulations! Storytelling is the most powerful and ancient form of communication known to humankind. It can entertain, educate, or inspire people in ways that no other medium can.

Determining the plot of your story may seem like a daunting task, but it's pretty simple. We hope this blog has helped you understand how to do just that. Now get out there and tell your story!