
Plot development is often compared to climbing a mountain or riding a roller coaster. Students relate to the roller coaster analogy. Here is how it works:
The Plot Development Roller Coaster
Exposition
When you first get on the roller coaster a voice over a loudspeaker gives background information such as when the coaster was built, how long the ride will last, or how high or fast you will be traveling. The exposition also gives background information. It is the introduction of the story. The exposition contains the setting and introduces the main characters. Readers need this information to understand a story.
Rising Action
The next part of the ride is the big hill. No matter which type of coaster you are riding, this is the longest part of the ride. Your excitement builds as you slowly climb. The long climb of the coaster may be compared to the story’s rising action. In the rising action, a series of events takes place, building the story’s excitement.
Climax
The top of the big hill on the roller coaster may be compared to the story’s climax. This is the most exciting part of the coaster ride and the story. No, looking back, the action must move forward. You are full of suspense about what is about to take place.
Falling Action
The fast-paced action part of the ride is the downhill race, in which the coaster may fly around sharp corners, flip upside down while passing through corkscrew turns, or bounce over a series of hills. The same is true of a story’s falling action. During the falling action, the characters begin to solve the conflict. Exciting action fills the pages.
Resolution
Finally, the roller coaster ride has come to an end. As riders get off, they talk about the experience. The resolution is the end of the story or how everything winds up. A reader will discover if the protagonist gets what s/he wanted or not. Just like the roller coaster ride may change a person, the experiences the characters go through in the book change them as well. During the resolution, the reader sees just how the characters have changed.

Anchor Chart
This anchor chart may be printed in 20 by 30-inch poster size or standard printing size 8.5 by 11 inch for individual use.
Get all printable activities from this post here.
Using Animated Shorts to Teach Plot Development
Have students practice creating a plot development roller coaster diagram using animated shorts’ plot. They are extremely short making them ideal for a quick lesson. The handout contains links to 2 fun films that work well for this purpose. Both printable and Google Slide organizers are provided in the link below.
Sequencing Story Parts by Plot Development
Both printable and digital versions are provided for this activity.
Printable Version
Print the cards and the roller coaster plot diagram. Have students cut out the cards and glue them in the correct order on the roller coaster plot diagram.
Digital Version
Students drag the story parts to the correct locations on the Roller Coaster Plot Diagram.
Have students practice creating a plot development roller coaster diagram using animated shorts’ plot. They are extremely short making them ideal for a quick lesson. The handout contains links to 2 fun films that work well for this purpose. Both printable and Google Slide organizers are provided in the link below.
YouTube Lesson Videos

Learn Plot Diagram Using Movie Examples (6:06) – This video explains the concept of a plot diagram using clips from popular movies.

Plot Mountain! The Plot Diagram Song Scratch Garden (2:35) – This video uses a mountain metaphor to teach the parts of a plot diagram. You will learn how a story has an introduction, a rising action, a climax, a falling action, and a conclusion.

Plot development is an important skill for students to learn and practice. Using the roller coaster analogy, students can easily understand the different parts of a plot and how they create suspense and excitement in a story. The activities and resources in this post can help you teach plot development in a fun and engaging way. I hope you find them helpful and enjoy using them in your classroom.
See the product that inspired this post.

Story Elements: Plot Development contains both lessons and activities to help your students master plot development.
