Red Kayak Summary

A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures. Sometimes students will really have to think carefully about which events are major turning points in the plot.

Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the selection in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. An additional challenge would be to diagram the entire book, also entitled Red Kayak, which has a much different feel to it.

Example "Red Kayak" Plot Diagram

Exposition

Brady sees his new neighbor, Mrs. DiAngelo, taking her red kayak out on the creek with her three year old son. He knows it isn't safe because of tides and winds, but doesn't stop them.

Conflict

Brady finds out that Mrs. DiAngelo and her son, Ben, are missing after going out on the creek.

Rising Action

Brady and his dog, Tilly, join the search for the missing DiAngelos. Carl and the other rescuers look downstream, while Brady goes off on his own.

Climax

With the help of Tilly's instincts, Brady finds little Ben, but he is not breathing! Brady tries to remember what to do in an emergency.

Falling Action

Brady remembers what Carl said about ABC: check airway, check breathing, check circulation. He desperately performs CPR on Ben and steers the boat back to shore.

Resolution

The paramedics find Ben's pulse. Brady reflects on what happened and thinks about fate; he wonders what would’ve happened to Ben if he hadn’t been there to check the little creeks. He realizes he will never be the same person because he helped save a life.