Lesson Plan
Story Map Plan
Students will sequence three personal life events on a timeline and describe how each shaped their perspective through writing and peer discussion.
This lesson builds self-awareness, reflection, and narrative skills by connecting students’ experiences to their developing viewpoints, fostering empathy and confidence in personal storytelling.
Audience
5th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided timeline creation paired with reflection and discussion.
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Review the Past to Present Slides to ensure understanding of the modeled timeline steps.
- Print enough copies of the Timeline Graphic Worksheet and the Reflection Journal Page for each student.
- Read through the My Story Map Script to familiarize yourself with prompts and guiding questions.
Step 1
Brainstorm Pivotal Moments
5 minutes
- Introduce the concept of life events and perspective using guiding questions from the My Story Map Script.
- Ask students to think quietly and jot down at least five significant moments in their lives (e.g., first day of school, learning a new skill).
- Have students share one idea aloud to build momentum.
Step 2
Model Timeline
7 minutes
- Display the Past to Present Slides on the board.
- Model creating a timeline of three teacher-selected events, narrating why each matters and how it shaped your perspective.
- Highlight how to note event dates, descriptions, and reflections.
Step 3
Create Personal Map
12 minutes
- Distribute the Timeline Graphic Worksheet to each student.
- Instruct students to select three of their brainstormed events, record dates and brief descriptions, and write a sentence on how each event influenced their view of themselves or others.
- Circulate to support and prompt deeper reflection as needed.
Step 4
Pair-Share Reflections
6 minutes
- Have students pair up and exchange worksheets.
- Using the Reflection Journal Page, partners ask clarifying questions and note one insight about how each event shaped a friend’s perspective.
- Invite a few volunteers to share highlights with the whole class.
Slide Deck
Past to Present: Mapping Your Journey
• Today we explore three key life events
• We’ll learn to place them on a timeline
• Then reflect on how each event shaped our perspective and growth
Welcome students and introduce today’s focus: understanding how our past experiences shape who we are today. Explain that we’ll learn to map events on a timeline and reflect on their impact.
Lesson Objective
By the end of today, you will:
- Sequence three significant life events on a timeline
- Describe how each event shaped your perspective
Clarify the lesson goal so students know what to aim for. Emphasize the skills of sequencing and reflection.
What Is a Timeline?
• A visual representation of events in order by date
• Each entry includes: date, event description, reflection sentence
• Helps us see how our experiences connect and shape us
Define a timeline and its parts. Point to date, event description, and reflection notes as you explain.
Modeling Steps
- Choose three meaningful events
- Note the date or age when each happened
- Write a brief description of each event
- Add a reflection on how it changed your view
Walk through the four modeling steps. Use your own story to demonstrate each step aloud as you show this slide.
Example Timeline
Age 6 – Learned to ride a bike
Reflection: I felt proud and more confident
Age 8 – Moved to a new school
Reflection: I felt nervous but made new friends
Age 10 – Joined the soccer team
Reflection: I learned teamwork and perseverance
Show a concrete example from a hypothetical student or yourself. Emphasize how the reflection ties to each event.
Reflection Prompts
• What did you learn from this event?
• How did this change your feelings about yourself or others?
• Why is this event important to your story?
Provide reflection prompts to guide students’ thinking. Encourage them to answer these when writing their own reflections.
Ready to Create Your Map?
• Grab your Timeline Graphic Worksheet
• Choose your three events and record dates
• Write descriptions and reflection sentences
Let’s begin mapping your story!
Prepare students for independent work. Remind them of materials and expectations, then transition to the timeline worksheet.
Worksheet
Timeline Graphic Worksheet
Use this timeline to map three significant events in your life. For each event, write the date or age, a brief description, and one reflection sentence explaining how it shaped your perspective.
Event 1
Date/Age: __________________________
Description: ____________________________________________________________
Reflection: _____________________________________________________________
Event 2
Date/Age: __________________________
Description: ____________________________________________________________
Reflection: _____________________________________________________________
Event 3
Date/Age: __________________________
Description: ____________________________________________________________
Reflection: _____________________________________________________________
Journal
Reflection Journal Page
Use this page during the Pair-Share Reflections to think deeply about your partner’s timeline and your own. Refer to your Timeline Graphic Worksheet as you write. Answer each prompt fully with complete sentences and details.
1. What was the most surprising insight you gained from your partner’s timeline?
Explain why it stood out to you.
2. Choose one event from your timeline and one from your partner’s.
Compare how each event influenced your perspectives. What similarities and differences can you find?
3. Looking at both timelines, what connections or patterns do you notice about how experiences affect our views of ourselves and others?
Provide specific examples.
4. Based on your reflections, write one personal growth goal.
How will your past experiences guide you as you work toward this goal?
Script
My Story Map Script
1. Brainstorm Pivotal Moments (5 minutes)
Teacher: Good morning, friends! Today we’re going to explore our own life stories by mapping out big moments that helped shape who we are. Let’s start by thinking about the most important events you’ve experienced so far.
Teacher: What kinds of events might we include in a timeline of our life? [Pause and wait for student ideas.]
Possible student response: “First day of school,” “losing a tooth,” “learning to swim,” etc.
Teacher (follow-up): Those are great examples! I’d like you to quietly think of at least five significant moments—happy, challenging, or exciting—from your life. Take two minutes to jot them down on a scrap of paper or in your notebook. Write just a few words for each. Ready? Go ahead and start now.
[Wait two minutes. Give a 30-second warning.]
Teacher: Okay, time’s up! Would anyone like to share one of the events they wrote down? [Call on 2–3 volunteers.]
Teacher (after sharing): Thank you for sharing! Keep your list handy—we’ll use it in just a moment.
2. Model Timeline (7 minutes)
Teacher: Now I’m going to show you how to take three of those events and place them on a timeline. Watch as I use these slides.
[Display slide “Modeling Steps.”]
Teacher: First, I pick three meaningful events. Next, I note the date or my age. Then I write a short description. Finally, I add one reflection sentence about how each event shaped me.
[Display slide “Example Timeline.”]
Teacher (modeling): Here’s mine:
• Age 6 – Learned to ride a bike. Reflection: “I felt proud and more confident.”
• Age 8 – Moved to a new school. Reflection: “I felt nervous but made new friends.”
• Age 10 – Joined the soccer team. Reflection: “I learned teamwork and perseverance.”
Teacher: Notice how I keep each description short and my reflection clear—just one sentence that explains how I changed or grew.
Teacher (prompt): What questions do you have about how I built my timeline? [Answer any quick clarifying questions.]
3. Create Personal Map (12 minutes)
Teacher: It’s your turn! Please take out your Timeline Graphic Worksheet and a pencil. Choose the three moments from your brainstorm list that feel most meaningful to you.
Teacher: For each event, do three things in the boxes:
- Write the date or your age.
- Describe the event in a few words.
- Write one reflection sentence about how it shaped your perspective—how it changed what you think or feel about yourself or others.
Teacher: I’ll walk around to help you. If you’re stuck, ask yourself: “What did I learn from this event?” or “Why does this moment matter in my story?”
[Circulate, offering prompts: “Tell me more about why this event felt important,” or “How did you feel after this happened?”]
[Give a 2-minute warning when 10 minutes have passed.]
Teacher: You have two minutes to finish up. Then we’ll pair-share our reflections.
4. Pair-Share Reflections (6 minutes)
Teacher: Turn to a neighbor and exchange your timeline worksheets. Now open your Reflection Journal Page.
Teacher: Use these prompts to guide your conversation:
- “What was the most surprising insight I learned from your timeline?”
- “Choose one event from each timeline. How did each event influence our perspectives? What is similar or different?”
- “What patterns do you notice about how our experiences shape our views of ourselves or others?”
- “Based on our reflections, what is one personal growth goal we can set? How will our past guide us toward that goal?”
Teacher: You have six minutes—three minutes to ask and answer, then we’ll come back together. Begin now.
[After six minutes, ring a soft chime or say:]
Teacher: Time’s up! Please return your journals and worksheets to your desk.
Teacher: Would anyone like to share one interesting insight they discovered about a friend’s story or a personal growth goal they set? [Invite 2–3 volunteers.]
Teacher (closing): Fantastic work today! By mapping our stories and reflecting on them, we learn not only about ourselves but also how our experiences connect us to each other. Keep these reflections in mind as you continue to grow and share your story with the world.