Reading Unit 2
Unit Plan
LITERARY ELEMENTS & STORY STRUCTURE
Understanding How Stories Work
Understanding How Stories Work
UNIT OVERVIEW (Teacher-Facing)
In this unit, students move from basic comprehension to analyzing how stories are constructed. They examine plot, character, conflict, and theme while continuing to build their Reading Portfolio.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
UNIT OUTCOMES
Students will:
CORE TEXTS (PUBLIC DOMAIN)
Text 1: The Tell-Tale Heart (Excerpt)
True!—nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? … It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night… I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture…
Text 2: The Gift of the Magi (Excerpt)
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all… Della counted it three times… Tomorrow would be Christmas Day… There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl.
PORTFOLIO CONNECTION (ONGOING)
Teacher Script
“In Unit 1, you learned how to read actively. Now, you will begin to analyze how texts are built. Your portfolio will show how your thinking is becoming more advanced.”
New Portfolio Entries in Unit 2Students must add:
SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION TO STORY ELEMENTS
Objective
Students understand key literary elements.
Teacher Script
“Stories are not random—they are built. Today, we begin to uncover how.”
Mini-Lesson Content
Teach explicitly:
Experiential Activity: “Build-a-Story” Simulation
Students (in groups):
Group Questions
Individual Work
Write:
Portfolio Task
Add:
SESSION 2: PLOT STRUCTURE
Objective
Students identify and analyze plot.
Teacher Script
“Every story follows a structure—even if we don’t notice it at first.”
Mini-Lesson Content
Teach:
Experiential Activity: Human Plot Line
Students physically stand in positions representing:
Text Application
Use The Tell-Tale Heart
Group Work
Groups identify:
Group Questions
Individual Work
Draw plot diagram and label events.
Portfolio Task
Add:
SESSION 3: CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Objective
Students analyze character motivation and traits.
Teacher Script
“Characters drive stories. Understanding them helps us understand the text.”
Text Focus
The Tell-Tale Heart
Guided Questions
Experiential Activity: Character on Trial
Setup:
Group Work
Groups gather evidence:
Required Evidence Questions
Individual Work
Write:
Portfolio Task
Add:
SESSION 4: CONFLICT
Objective
Students identify types of conflict.
Teacher Script
“Conflict is the engine of a story—without it, nothing happens.”
Mini-Lesson Content
Types:
Experiential Activity: Conflict Sort
Students sort examples into:
Text Application
Apply to The Tell-Tale Heart
Group Questions
Individual Work
Write:
Portfolio Task
Add:
SESSION 5: THEME
Objective
Students determine theme using evidence.
Teacher Script
“Theme is not just what happens—it is what the story means.”
Mini-Lesson Content
Theme = message about life
Text Focus
Aesop’s Fable (Revisit from Unit 1)
Guided Questions
Experiential Activity: Theme Debate
Groups argue:
Group Requirements
Must include:
Individual Work
Write:
Portfolio Task
Add:
SESSION 6: COMPARING CHARACTERS
Objective
Students compare characters across texts.
Texts
Experiential Activity: Character Mapping
Students create visual maps comparing:
Group Questions
Individual Work
Write comparison paragraph.
Portfolio Task
Add:
SESSION 7: SYNTHESIS & PERFORMANCE TASK
Objective
Students synthesize learning.
Experiential Activity: Story Rewrite
Students:
Group Work
Groups present:
Individual Reflection Questions
Portfolio Task
Add:
UNIT 2 ASSESSMENT
Portfolio Check #2
Must include:
Teacher Script
“I am looking for your ability to think deeply about stories—not just retell them.”
RUBRIC (STUDENT-FRIENDLY)
Strong work includes:
DIFFERENTIATIONELL Supports
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS
In this unit, students move from basic comprehension to analyzing how stories are constructed. They examine plot, character, conflict, and theme while continuing to build their Reading Portfolio.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- How do stories create meaning?
- How do characters and conflict shape a narrative?
- How do readers identify theme?
- How can we support interpretations with evidence?
UNIT OUTCOMES
Students will:
- Identify plot structure
- Analyze characters and motivation
- Explain conflict and its role
- Determine theme using evidence
- Strengthen written responses
CORE TEXTS (PUBLIC DOMAIN)
Text 1: The Tell-Tale Heart (Excerpt)
True!—nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? … It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night… I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture…
Text 2: The Gift of the Magi (Excerpt)
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all… Della counted it three times… Tomorrow would be Christmas Day… There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl.
PORTFOLIO CONNECTION (ONGOING)
Teacher Script
“In Unit 1, you learned how to read actively. Now, you will begin to analyze how texts are built. Your portfolio will show how your thinking is becoming more advanced.”
New Portfolio Entries in Unit 2Students must add:
- Plot diagrams
- Character analysis
- Theme statements
- Analytical responses
SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION TO STORY ELEMENTS
Objective
Students understand key literary elements.
Teacher Script
“Stories are not random—they are built. Today, we begin to uncover how.”
Mini-Lesson Content
Teach explicitly:
- Plot
- Character
- Setting
- Conflict
- Theme
Experiential Activity: “Build-a-Story” Simulation
Students (in groups):
- Given random elements (character, setting, conflict)
- Must create a quick story
Group Questions
- What made your story interesting?
- What was the conflict?
- What was the outcome?
Individual Work
Write:
- What are the most important parts of a story?
- Why?
Portfolio Task
Add:
- Notes on literary elements
- Reflection
SESSION 2: PLOT STRUCTURE
Objective
Students identify and analyze plot.
Teacher Script
“Every story follows a structure—even if we don’t notice it at first.”
Mini-Lesson Content
Teach:
- Exposition
- Rising Action
- Climax
- Falling Action
- Resolution
Experiential Activity: Human Plot Line
Students physically stand in positions representing:
- Beginning → middle → climax → end
Text Application
Use The Tell-Tale Heart
Group Work
Groups identify:
- Exposition
- Rising action
- Climax
- Resolution
Group Questions
- What is the turning point?
- How does tension build?
Individual Work
Draw plot diagram and label events.
Portfolio Task
Add:
- Plot diagram
- Explanation
SESSION 3: CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Objective
Students analyze character motivation and traits.
Teacher Script
“Characters drive stories. Understanding them helps us understand the text.”
Text Focus
The Tell-Tale Heart
Guided Questions
- What does the narrator say about himself?
- What does he DO?
- What does this reveal?
Experiential Activity: Character on Trial
Setup:
- Student = narrator
- Others = jury
Group Work
Groups gather evidence:
- Is the narrator sane or insane?
Required Evidence Questions
- What lines show instability?
- What actions suggest control?
- What contradictions exist?
Individual Work
Write:
- Claim: Is he sane or insane?
- Evidence (2 quotes)
- Explanation
Portfolio Task
Add:
- Character analysis paragraph
SESSION 4: CONFLICT
Objective
Students identify types of conflict.
Teacher Script
“Conflict is the engine of a story—without it, nothing happens.”
Mini-Lesson Content
Types:
- Internal
- External
Experiential Activity: Conflict Sort
Students sort examples into:
- Internal vs External
Text Application
Apply to The Tell-Tale Heart
Group Questions
- What is the main conflict?
- Is it internal or external?
- How do you know?
Individual Work
Write:
- Identify conflict
- Explain its importance
Portfolio Task
Add:
- Conflict analysis
SESSION 5: THEME
Objective
Students determine theme using evidence.
Teacher Script
“Theme is not just what happens—it is what the story means.”
Mini-Lesson Content
Theme = message about life
Text Focus
Aesop’s Fable (Revisit from Unit 1)
Guided Questions
- What lesson does the fox learn?
- What does this say about human behavior?
Experiential Activity: Theme Debate
Groups argue:
- What is the BEST theme?
Group Requirements
Must include:
- Claim
- Evidence
- Explanation
Individual Work
Write:
- Theme statement
- Evidence
- Explanation
Portfolio Task
Add:
- Theme paragraph
SESSION 6: COMPARING CHARACTERS
Objective
Students compare characters across texts.
Texts
- The Tell-Tale Heart
- The Gift of the Magi
Experiential Activity: Character Mapping
Students create visual maps comparing:
- Motivation
- Actions
- Outcomes
Group Questions
- How are the characters similar?
- How are they different?
- What drives each character?
Individual Work
Write comparison paragraph.
Portfolio Task
Add:
- Comparison response
SESSION 7: SYNTHESIS & PERFORMANCE TASK
Objective
Students synthesize learning.
Experiential Activity: Story Rewrite
Students:
- Rewrite ending OR
- Change character decision
Group Work
Groups present:
- New version
- Explanation
Individual Reflection Questions
- How does changing the story affect meaning?
- What did I learn about storytelling?
Portfolio Task
Add:
- Creative rewrite
- Reflection
UNIT 2 ASSESSMENT
Portfolio Check #2
Must include:
- Plot diagram
- Character analysis
- Conflict explanation
- Theme paragraph
- Comparison response
- Reflection
Teacher Script
“I am looking for your ability to think deeply about stories—not just retell them.”
RUBRIC (STUDENT-FRIENDLY)
Strong work includes:
- Clear understanding of story structure
- Use of evidence
- Thoughtful explanations
- Strong participation in discussions
- Growth in analysis
DIFFERENTIATIONELL Supports
- Sentence frames:
- “The character is ___ because…”
- “The conflict is ___ because…”
- Add tone analysis
- Introduce symbolism
- Require multi-paragraph analysis
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS
- Independent short story analysis
- Introduce literary criticism
- Begin literary essay drafting