This lesson plan helps students map the plot structure of *The Outsiders* by S.E. Hinton using a five-panel storyboard.
Subject: English Language Arts · Grade: 7–9 · Time: 30–45 minutes
Plot diagram
| Beat | Events | Chapter |
|---|---|---|
| Exposition | Ponyboy, a Greaser, is walking home from the movies. Socs attack him. His friends rescue him. | 1 |
| Rising action | Ponyboy and Johnny go to the park with Cherry and Marcia. Socs attack; Johnny kills Bob. The boys flee to a church. | 2–4 |
| Climax | The church catches fire. Johnny and Dally rescue children inside. Johnny is critically injured; Dally is burned. | 6 |
| Falling action | Johnny dies, telling Ponyboy to "stay gold." Dally, devastated, provokes the police and is shot dead. | 7–10 |
| Resolution | Ponyboy writes his essay about the events. He realizes that everyone — Greasers and Socs alike — shares the same humanity. | 11–12 |
Activity: Plot diagram storyboard
- Open Storyboard Creator with a 5-panel layout
- Label each panel with the story beat
- Illustrate the key event for each beat
- Add captions with chapter numbers
- Export PDF or share a live link