Creating a Story Map

Overview

In this 45-minute lesson, 6th-grade students will engage with A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle through the creation of a story map. They will identify and organize key events, characters, and settings from the novel to deepen comprehension and improve analytical skills. This lesson supports Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Reading Literature and Writing by integrating text analysis and graphic organizing strategies.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• RL.6.3: Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot) in A Wrinkle in Time.
• RL.6.1: Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• W.6.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas clearly, through their story map presentation.

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Standards Alignment

Standard	Description
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1	Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3	Describe how a particular story’s setting shapes the characters or plot.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2	Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1	Engage effectively in collaborative discussions with diverse partners.

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Materials Needed

• Copies or excerpts of A Wrinkle in Time (key chapters previously read)
• Large chart paper or whiteboard
• Markers, colored pencils
• Printed blank story map templates (with sections for characters, setting, events)
• Sticky notes

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Lesson Timeline

1. Introduction & Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Begin with a brief review and discussion of A Wrinkle in Time, focusing on the key characters, settings, and events read so far.
• Ask students to quickly share their favorite moment or character to activate prior knowledge.
• Explain the goal: to create a story map that visually organizes the story’s major elements for better understanding.

2. Mini-Lesson on Story Maps (5 minutes)

• Show an example of a story map (using a familiar fairy tale like Cinderella).
• Explain the three main components: characters, setting, and key events. Emphasize how these connect and affect one another.
• Model identifying one character, one setting, and one event from A Wrinkle in Time as a class.

3. Guided Practice: Text Evidence Hunt (10 minutes)

• In pairs, students use excerpts or notes to find text evidence about major characters, the setting, and important events.
• Each pair writes a short note or phrase on sticky notes summarizing each element along with a brief quote or paraphrase as evidence.
• Teacher circulates, prompting students to dig deeper into why certain events matter or how settings influence the story.

4. Creating the Story Maps (15 minutes)

• Students individually fill out their story map templates using their group’s textual evidence.
• Encourage use of color and drawings to represent elements vividly.
• Remind students to focus on clarity and connections (for example, how a setting impacts a character’s decisions).

5. Sharing and Discussion (7 minutes)

• Invite a few volunteers to present their story maps.
• Facilitate a discussion focused on:
  • How do the settings influence the characters’ actions?
  • Which events seem most pivotal and why?
  • Did any evidence surprise them or change how they view the story?

6. Closing Reflection (3 minutes)

• Ask students to write one sentence describing how creating a story map helped them understand A Wrinkle in Time better.
• Collect story maps for informal assessment and review.

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Assessment

• Formative: Observation during pair discussions and story map creation.
• Summative: Completed story map showing understanding of characters, setting, and key events with cited textual support.
• Participation in sharing and reflective writing.

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Differentiation Strategies

• For students needing support: Provide partially filled story maps or key phrases to guide their analysis.
• For advanced learners: Challenge them to include a “theme” or “conflict” section in the story map and find textual evidence for it.
• Encourage ELL students to use bilingual dictionaries and work in mixed-ability pairs for vocabulary support.

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Extensions and Home Connection

• Encourage students to create a digital version of their story map at home using tools like Google Slides or drawing apps.
• Suggest families discuss their favorite book’s story elements and compare to A Wrinkle in Time story maps.

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Teacher Reflection Prompts

• How effectively did students find and use textual evidence?
• Did the story maps show understanding of the interaction between setting, characters, and events?
• How can this lesson be adapted for other literature or for supporting students with varied reading levels?

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This lesson connects literary analysis with visual representation, enabling young readers to deepen their comprehension and make abstract story components concrete and memorable. This multimodal approach aligns fully with Common Core requirements and encourages critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.