Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

A Basic Review of Plot Elements (Starring Spongebob Squarepants)

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

5

Overview

This learning activity is an engaging teacher-created Google Slides presentation with basic definitions of literary terms illustrated with examples (gifs and videos) featuring a student favorite, Spongebob Squarepants. This activity includes a link to a Quizlet flashcard set.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 5

    ELA21.5.17

    Demonstrate comprehension of text by asking and responding to questions about literary elements used in the text.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.5.17

    Vocabulary

    • Demonstrate
    • Comprehension
    • Literary elements

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Literary elements within a story include the theme, plot, and point of view.
    • Comprehension can be demonstrated by asking and answering questions about a text.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Ask questions about literary elements used in the text to demonstrate comprehension.
    • Respond to questions about literary elements used in the text to demonstrate comprehension.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • They can show they understood a story they read by asking and answering questions about specific literary elements.

    Phase

    Before/Engage
    Learning Objectives

    Learning Objectives

    Students will demonstrate an understanding of academic terms of literary elements used to describe or discuss the plot of a story. 

    Activity Details

    Students will participate in a teacher-led discussion of eighteen terms commonly used in literary analysis and discussion. There are included gifs on each slide (and two video examples) that relate to the term on the slide. 

    As the teacher goes through the slide deck, share the terms with students, and ask them to volunteer their own examples from other stories/movies/tv-shows/novels. This can be done through turn-and-talk, think-pair-share, or as a whole group. 

    The terms included are:

    1. Characters
    2. Protagonist
    3. Antagonist
    4. Setting
    5. Exposition
    6. Characterization
    7. Direct Characterization
    8. Indirect Characterization
    9. Plot
    10. Conflict
    11. External Conflict
    12. Internal Conflict
    13. Inciting Incident
    14. Rising Action
    15. Complication
    16. Climax
    17. Falling Action
    18. Resolution

    After reviewing & discussing the terms in the slideshow, students can utilize this Quizlet Flashcard Set for Plot to review the terms.  With these flashcards, students can also play a matching game. The teacher can also assist students in playing an interactive team-based game called Quizlet Live.

    Assessment Strategies

    Assessment Strategies

    The teacher will listen as students make suggestions for examples of the terms to ensure they understand the concept behind each term. 

    The teacher will review students' scores on the Quizlet matching game or Quizlet Live to see who is struggling. The students struggling may need to be pulled into small groups and retaught the lesson.

    Variation Tips

    The teacher can ask students to fill in these terms on a blank plot diagram. 

    The teacher can show a short video (Pixar shorts are good for this and can be found on YouTube) and ask students to identify the elements they see.

    Students can write down their own examples.

    Approximate Duration

    Total Duration

    16 to 30 Minutes

    Related Learning Activities

    Background and Preparation

    Background / Preparation

    The teacher will need to preview the slide show.

    The teacher will need to decide if he/she wants students to take notes of the slides or if the notes will be printed out as handouts for the students to paste into notebooks. The teacher can also provide them with a digital copy of the slideshow.

    The students can play with Quizlet flashcards individually, in pairs, or as a station activity.

    Digital Tools / Resources

    ALSDE LOGO