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My Story Map

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Elijah Glenn

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Story Map Plan

Students will brainstorm three pivotal life events, map them on a timeline, and explain how each shaped their perspective.

This lesson fosters narrative writing skills, self-awareness, and social-emotional learning by encouraging reflection on personal experiences and perspective-taking.

Audience

5th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Brainstorm, model with slides, independent mapping, peer sharing.

Materials

  • Past to Present Slides, - Timeline Graphic, - Reflection Journal Page, and - My Story Map Script

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Print enough copies of Timeline Graphic and Reflection Journal Page for each student.
  • Load and queue Past to Present Slides on the classroom display.
  • Review My Story Map Script to guide the modeled example.

Step 1

Brainstorm Pivotal Moments

5 minutes

  • Introduce the concepts of “life events” and “perspective.”
  • Ask students to think of three key moments (e.g., moving schools, learning something new, a family event).
  • Have them jot quick notes in their Reflection Journal Page about why each moment stands out.

Step 2

Model Timeline Creation

7 minutes

  • Use Past to Present Slides to demonstrate selecting and ordering three events.
  • Follow My Story Map Script to narrate how each event influenced the sample student’s outlook.
  • Highlight how to write 1–2 sentences beneath each event explaining the perspective shift.

Step 3

Create Personal Story Map

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Timeline Graphic to each student.
  • Students draw their three events in chronological order and write descriptions below each.
  • Teacher circulates to support wording and reflection connections.

Step 4

Pair-Share Reflections

8 minutes

  • Students form pairs and exchange story maps.
  • Using the Reflection Journal Page, each student records one insight gained from their partner’s timeline.
  • Invite a few volunteers to share highlights with the whole class.
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Slide Deck

Past to Present: Life Events & Perspective

Welcome! Today we’ll explore how our personal experiences shape the way we see the world. We’ll look at a sample timeline and then create our own story maps.

Greet students and introduce the goal: we’ll explore how personal experiences shape our view of the world. Explain that after seeing an example, they’ll create their own story maps.

What Are Life Events?

• Important moments in our lives
• Can be big changes or simple milestones
Examples: moving, learning a new skill, family celebrations

Define “life events.” Ask students to name a moment in their own lives that stands out.

What Is Perspective?

• Our thoughts, feelings, and views based on experiences
• Each event can change how we see ourselves and others
Example: Moving to a new school can make you more confident or shy

Explain perspective. Use a quick classroom example (e.g., first day of school). Ask: How has an event changed how you think or feel?

Sample Timeline: Jordan’s Story

• 2016: Moved to a new town
• 2017: Won the school spelling bee
• 2018: Volunteered at an animal shelter

Show this as a simple visual timeline on the board or projector. Highlight the dates and arrows connecting each event.

Jordan’s Pivotal Moments

Event 1 (Moved to a New Town): Helped Jordan become more adaptable and make new friends.

Event 2 (Spelling Bee Win): Showed Jordan the power of practice and boosted confidence.

Event 3 (Volunteering): Taught Jordan empathy and the importance of helping others.

Read each event and the 1–2 sentence perspective shift. Point out how specific and concise the descriptions are.

Create Your Own Story Map

• Draw three events in chronological order on your timeline
• Write 1–2 sentences under each explaining how it shaped your perspective
• Use your Reflection Journal Page to jot notes first

Transition to student work. Remind them to draft in their journal before drawing on the worksheet.

Pair-Share Reflections

• Find a partner and exchange story maps
• Take turns explaining your events and perspective shifts
• Write one new insight about your partner’s story in your journal

Explain the pair-share process and model how to give a respectful, specific insight.

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Worksheet

Timeline Graphic Worksheet

Use the timeline below to map your three pivotal life events. Then, in each section, draw and describe how the event shaped your perspective.

○——————○——————○

Event 1    Event 2    Event 3

Event 1

Date: ____________________________________________

Draw your event here:











Describe how this event shaped your perspective (1–2 sentences):







Event 2

Date: ____________________________________________

Draw your event here:











Describe how this event shaped your perspective (1–2 sentences):







Event 3

Date: ____________________________________________

Draw your event here:











Describe how this event shaped your perspective (1–2 sentences):







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Journal

Reflection Journal Page

Brainstorm Your Pivotal Moments

Think of three important events or experiences in your life. Jot down quick notes about each one:

  1. Event 1: _______________________________Why it matters:







  2. Event 2: _______________________________Why it matters:







  3. Event 3: _______________________________Why it matters:







After Pair-Share: Partner Insight

Write one new insight or perspective you gained from your partner’s story map:











(Optional) How might this insight change the way you think about your own experiences?







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Script

My Story Map Script

1. Brainstorm Pivotal Moments (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today we’re going to explore three important moments in our lives and discover how each one has shaped the way we see the world. To start, please take out your Reflection Journal Page."

Teacher: "On your journal page, you’ll see three spaces under “Brainstorm Your Pivotal Moments.” I want you to think of one event for each space—maybe moving to a new home, learning something exciting, or a family celebration."

Teacher (pause for writing): "Write down the name of the event and then answer: Why does this event matter to you?"

Teacher (after 1 minute): "Great! Now let’s share one example. Would anyone like to tell me one of your events and why it matters?"
Possible student response
Teacher: "Thank you for sharing! I can see why that moment stands out to you."

2. Model Timeline Creation (7 minutes)

Teacher: "Next, we’ll look at a sample timeline. I’m going to use our Past to Present Slides. Let’s go to Slide 4, ‘Sample Timeline: Jordan’s Story.’"

Teacher: "On this slide, Jordan has chosen three events:"

  • "2016: Moved to a new town"
  • "2017: Won the school spelling bee"
  • "2018: Volunteered at an animal shelter"

Teacher: "Now watch how I explain each one. Go to Slide 5, ‘Jordan’s Pivotal Moments.’"

Teacher: "I read the first event: ‘Moved to a New Town.’ Then I write a short explanation: ‘This event helped Jordan become more adaptable and make new friends.’ See how it’s only one to two sentences? That keeps it clear and specific."

Teacher: "For the second event, ‘Spelling Bee Win,’ I wrote: ‘It showed Jordan the power of practice and boosted confidence.’ And for the third event, ‘Volunteering,’ I wrote: ‘It taught Jordan empathy and the importance of helping others.’"

Teacher: "Does anyone notice something similar in each of those explanations?"
Pause for responses
Teacher: "Right—you can see how each description shows how Jordan’s thoughts or feelings changed."

3. Create Your Personal Story Map (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Okay, now it’s your turn. I’m handing out the Timeline Graphic."

Teacher: "First, look back at your Reflection Journal Page notes. Then on your worksheet draw each event in chronological order along the three dots on the timeline. Under each drawing, write one to two sentences that explain how that event changed your perspective."

Teacher: "I’ll walk around to help if you have questions about wording or reflection. You have about eight minutes—let’s get started!"

Teacher circulates.

4. Pair-Share Reflections (8 minutes)

Teacher: "Time’s up! Please put down your pencils. Now find a partner. Trade story maps so you each can see one another’s events."

Teacher: "Take turns explaining your timeline and read aloud your sentences under each event. Then, on your Reflection Journal Page in the bottom section, write down one new insight you gained from your partner’s story."

Teacher: "I’ll give you about five minutes for that—then we’ll come back together. Go ahead!"

Teacher monitors partner discussions.

5. Whole-Class Share (Remaining Time)

Teacher: "Thanks for sharing with your partner. Would anyone like to tell the class one interesting insight they learned from their partner’s story?"

Allow 2–3 volunteers to share.

Teacher: "Wonderful observations! By reflecting on each other’s stories, we learn new ways to see our own experiences. Great work today, everyone—your story maps are complete!"

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