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Plot Events and Symbols Planning Matrix

Ohio Odyssey Plot Line

Ohio Odyssey Plot Events and Symbol Suggestions

Lesson Overview

The purpose of the lessons in this unit is to help Ohio students in grades 3-7 learn the characteristics of the literary text PLOT indicators that they must master for their respective Ohio achievement tests. Special care has been taken to dovetail the lessons with the indicators and the types of questions commonly asked on Ohio tests. The lessons are divided into two sections: Grades 3-4 and Grades 5-7.

Ohio Academic Content Indicators

2001.EL.S05.GKG-03.BA.L03.I01
Recognize and describe similarities and differences of plot across literary works.

2001.EL.S05.GKG-03.BD.L03.I03
Retell the plot sequence.

2001.EL.S05.G04-07.BC.L04.I03
Identify the main incidents of a plot sequence, identifying the major conflict and its resolution.

Ohio Achievement/Proficiency Tests Plot Question Types

• What happens just before Event X?
• Tell how Character X felt at the (beginning/middle/end) of the selection and list the event(s) that made him/her feel that way.
• List x number of events that happen in the selection that caused the Story Element X to change. List the events in the order that they happen in the selection.
• List (or complete a web showing) x number of things Character X did to solve Problem X.
• Given a list of incidents/events from a selection, choose the one that directly caused/led to Event X.
• What is the major conflict in the selection and how is it resolved?
• Given a list of sub-headings from the selection, under which does Event X belong?
• What is the main idea of the selection?
• Summarize the selection.

Ohio Odyssey
Episode Summary

In this episode, Johnny Appleseed meets a giant serpent that fell to earth in a meteor. The snake plans to consume the Earth – boulder, by cave, by mountain. Johnny sends Mike Fink through time to pick up the “Buckeye Heroes” from the other seven episodes and they all join together to defeat the serpent. The Buckeye Heroes are: Johnny Appleseed, Mike Fink, Annie Oakley, Harriett Beecher Stowe, Jesse Owens, Neil Armstrong, and Cy Gatton.

Access this episode's Before Viewing and After Viewing discussion guides by downloading the complete unit guide.

Plot Lesson

Materials:

• Teacher’s page: “Ohio Odyssey Plot Events and Symbol Suggestions”.
• White index cards, card stock, or other study drawing paper.
• Drawing materials such as crayons, colored pencils, or markers.
• Materials to post finished drawings.

Procedure:

• Watch the “Ohio Odyssey” episode again.
• Discuss the plot with the class – or – outline the events for the class. See the page titled
  “Ohio Odyssey Plot Events and Symbol Suggestions.”
• Explain to the students that the main problem (conflict) often appears at or near the beginning of a story and that the solution to the problem usually appears close to or near the story’s end.
• Explain to students that the climax of a story is often the most exciting and/or the most important part of the story.
• Explain to the students that a story’s plot is composed of:
• The main problem (conflict).
• The solution to the main problem (resolution).
• Events that tell what steps the main character takes to solve the problem.
• Assign students to draw a symbol for each event in the plot. You or your students may write the name of the symbol to be drawn on the back of each card and print the sentence describing the event on the front of the card.
• Post the drawings so that they are not in strict chronological order.
  
• Ask the children to pick out the drawing(s) that stand for the main problem. Post that drawing(s) in the beginning position as indicated by the figure at the right. See the page “Ohio Odyssey Plot Line” to see an example of what the finished plot line might look like.
• Ask the children to pick out the drawing(s) that stand for the solution to the main problem. Post the drawing(s) in the end position.
• Ask the children to pick out the drawing(s) that stand for the events of the climax of the story – the most exciting part. Post the drawing(s) in the climax position.
• Connect the conflict, climax, and resolution with lines. (Chalkboard – draw the lines with chalk. bulletin board – use ribbon or strips of paper for the lines, graphic organizer software – use the drawing tools.)
• Ask the children to re-order the events so that they match the chronology of the “Ohio Odyssey” episode.
• Post the drawings in chronological order in relation to the drawings previously posted.