The Mouse and the Motorcycle Summary

In Grades 2-4, students are beginning to transition from the reading level of retelling a book orally, to summarizing lengthier texts orally and in writing. This skill can be challenging with chapter books, because students have to synthesize many details, and think critically about the importance of events. A plot diagram storyboard provides students with a way to organize their thinking and improve their summarization skills.

Consider having students plan their storyboard using a blank template prior to creating the full storyboard online. Students should begin with the narrative in each box before adding character dialogue. This will allow them to focus on the purpose of summarizing, and determining importance, before getting distracted by the details of the storyboard. Students can also be given a set number of frames to use for the storyboard, to help them be concise. After planning on a template, students can compare the important events they chose with a partner, and the class can discuss why different events in the story were included in the storyboard over others.