Objectives:
A) Students will be able to complete a story map over the book Cloudy With a
Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett.

B) Students will understand the different elements of a story by creating a story map in
cooperative groups.

Materials:  (1 copy: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Judi Barrett, Ill. By Ron Barrett, McClelland & Stewart, Canada 1978.), (1 reading book for each student: Forces of Nature, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, New York 1997.), 1 Story Map template on chart paper, markers, lined chart paper, a variety of appropriate books for students to choose from, 1 tape player, 1 cassette tape of the story Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

PROCEDURES

Introduction.
· Introduce the class to story mapping by showing them a story map template on chart paper.  I will have the story map elements written in bold print.  We will fill in the chart as we go along.

· Explain to students that a story map will help them understand a story better after they have read it.

Guided Practice.
· Point out each area of the story map: (Main Characters, setting, problem or goal, plot or sequence of events, solution, and story theme or moral.)

· Call on different student volunteers to explain in their own words each element of the story map.  Guide students through the correct meanings of each element of the story map.

· Have students listen to the story Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs on cassette tape as they follow along in their reading book.

· Guide students in filling in the story map after listening to the story.  The teacher will write as the students volunteer their answers.  This story map will serve as an example for the group story maps.
 

Independent Practice.
· Have students divide up into groups of 3 and find an area on the floor.

· I will have a variety of books that I will introduce to the students.

· Each group will have an opportunity to choose a book they would like to do a story map on.

· Each group will be given markers and a piece of chart paper.  Each student in the group will take turns reading to the rest of the group until the whole story has been read.  One person will write as the others go back through the story to find the different elements selected for the story map.  Students may also decorate their story map with artwork.

Closure.
· Have each group present their story map to the rest of the class.  Have the students put the name of each group member on their paper.

Evaluation.
· Students will given an individual participation grade and they will be graded as a group on their story maps.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Main Characters: Grandpa, Mom, Henry, Henry’s Brother, townspeople
 

Setting:  Henry’s House (present time), and the land of Chewandswallow (make believe time and place)

Problem or Goal: Food falling from the sky takes a turn for the worst and causes a disaster in the town of Chewandswallow.

Event 1: Grandpa tells a bedtime story about the land of Chewandswallow where the people eat food that falls from the sky.

Event 2: The weather takes a turn for the worst and storms of food take over the town.

Event 3: The sanitation department tried to help, but finally gave up for fear of their lives.

Event 4: A decision was made to abandon the town of Chewandswallow.

Event 5: The townspeople glued together giant pieces of stale bread to make a raft, and set sail for a new land.

Event 6: They finally reached a small coastal town, began buying food from supermarkets, and never went back to Chewandswallow again.

Solution:  The people from Chewandswallow abandoned the town and started a new life in another place.

Story Theme or Moral: Too much of a good thing can become a bad thing!