The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street was originally an episode of the 1960s television show The Twilight Zone, which was later made into a graphic novel. The story deals with human nature and paranoia, and is a great tool for teaching themes, lessons, and morals in the classroom.
Monsters on Maple St. Modern Adaptation storyboard graphic organizer
Storyboard Text
EXPOSITION
Guys, my phone's not in my desk. Has anyone seen it?
CONFLICT
Ok, enough fun and games. Just return it and no one will get detention!
RISING ACTION
Lucy, can you step outside, please?
One day, in Mrs. Ray's class, someone stole her cell phone out of her desk. She knows it's still in the classroom because she has GPS.
CLIMAX
Mrs. Ray gives everyone a chance to turn the phone in, no questions asked, but no one does.
FALLING ACTION
You did it!
Each student is pulled into the hall for questioning one at a time. Meanwhile, Jeremy begins his own questioning. Since a few kids in the class have been accused of this before he starts with them.
RESOLUTION
No one stole my phone. This was an experiment to see how fast you'd turn on one another..."
Jeremy takes matters into his own hands, and thinks Jamie is acting suspicious. He grabs her backpack and begins to search it. Everyone is on Jeremy's side, cheering him on.
You can't just take my bag and look in it!
The class begins to hear the phone ring, and everyone is pointing fingers at each other. Friends are accusing friends. No one wants detention, they see the dean coming...
I bet it was Frank!
Before the Dean opens the door Jeremy and Jamie get into a fist fight, Victoria screams at Tori, and Marcus says he will confess to save the class. The door opens, and it's Mrs. Ray. She tells the class that it was all an experiment.