Lesson Plan
Story Map Plan
Students will identify three significant personal life events, map them on a timeline, and articulate how each event shaped their perspective.
This lesson builds self-awareness and narrative skills by helping students reflect on personal history, fostering empathy as they understand how experiences influence viewpoints.
Audience
5th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Model, brainstorm, timeline creation, pair-share
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Print enough copies of the Timeline Graphic and Reflection Journal Page for all students.
- Review the Past to Present Slides and rehearse the My Story Map Script talking points.
- Arrange classroom seating to facilitate pair-share discussions.
Step 1
Introduction & Brainstorm
5 minutes
- Display the first slide from the Past to Present Slides defining “life events” and “perspective.”
- Ask students to think silently of three moments that changed how they see themselves or the world.
- Invite volunteers to share ideas; list responses on the board to spark discussion.
Step 2
Model Timeline Creation
7 minutes
- Use the My Story Map Script to guide a live demonstration on the projector.
- Complete an example row on the Timeline Graphic: event name, date, and a short note on its impact.
- Highlight how descriptive details and reflection deepen understanding.
Step 3
Personal Timeline Development
10 minutes
- Distribute the Timeline Graphic worksheet and writing tools.
- Students record their three events, dates, and a sentence on how each changed their perspective.
- Differentiate: offer sentence stems (e.g., “This event showed me…”), or challenge advanced students to add sensory details or future implications.
- Teacher circulates, asks probing questions, and supports deeper reflection.
Step 4
Pair-Share Reflections
5 minutes
- Students pair up to exchange one event and its perspective shift.
- Peers use the Reflection Journal Page to jot down questions or connections.
- Encourage active listening: students respond with empathetic prompts (e.g., “How did that make you feel?”).
Slide Deck
Life Events and Perspective
Life Event: A moment or experience that changed you in some way.
Perspective: How you view yourself, others, or the world.
Welcome students and introduce the terms. Emphasize that a life event can be big or small but changes how we see ourselves or the world.
Examples of Life Events
• Starting a new school or grade
• Moving to a new neighborhood
• Learning to ride a bike
• Winning or losing a competition
• Helping someone in need
Read through each example and invite students to think of similar moments in their lives.
Timeline Graphic Overview
We will use the Timeline Graphic to record:
- The event name
- The date or age when it happened
- A sentence on how it changed your perspective
Point out each section of the timeline worksheet so students know where to write.
Model Timeline Example
Event: First day of 5th grade
Date: September 5, 2023
Impact: I felt proud that I could learn and make new friends, which showed me I can adjust to new situations.
Use the My Story Map Script to guide your example. Explain why you chose descriptive details.
Your Turn: Create Your Timeline
• Grab your Timeline Graphic worksheet.
• Write three life events, dates, and one-sentence reflections.
• Use “This event showed me…” to get started if you’re stuck.
Remind students to use sentence stems if they need help and circulate to support them.
Pair-Share Reflections
• Find a partner and share one event and its perspective shift.
• Use the Reflection Journal Page to note questions or similarities.
• Ask: “How did that make you feel?” or “What would you do next?”
Encourage active listening. Prompt students to write questions or connections in their journals.
Worksheet
Timeline Graphic
Use the chart below to map three significant life events. For each, write the event name, when it happened (date or your age), and one sentence on how it changed your perspective.
| Event | Date/Age | How did this change your perspective? |
|---|---|---|
Journal
Reflection Journal Page
1. Choose One Event to Reflect On
Think back to one event from your Timeline Graphic. Use the prompts below to explore your thoughts and feelings.
a. Describe the Event: What happened? Include sensory details (sights, sounds, feelings).
b. Perspective Shift: How did this event change the way you see yourself, others, or the world?
c. Advice to Your Younger Self: If you could speak to yourself at that moment, what would you say?
2. Peer Feedback Questions
After sharing your reflection with a partner, write down at least three thoughtful questions or connections they can answer. Use open-ended and empathetic prompts (e.g., “How did that feel?”, “What surprised you?”).
Use this space to record your partner’s responses or any new insights you discover.
Script
My Story Map Script
Introduction & Brainstorm (5 minutes)
“Good morning, everyone! Today, we’re going to explore how our personal experiences shape the way we see the world. A life event is a moment or experience that changes you in some way, and perspective is how you view yourself, others, or the world.
Show the first slide of the Past to Present Slides.
I’d like you to take a quiet moment and think of three life events that changed how you see yourself or the world. They can be big or small—anything from learning something new to helping someone in need. Close your eyes or look at the ceiling and just reflect for a few seconds…
[Pause for 10 seconds]
Alright, who can share one event and tell us what changed for you? I’ll write your ideas on the board to spark more thinking.
• “Who has a moment they’d like to share?”
• After a student shares: “That’s a great example. Can you say a bit more about how that moment made you feel?”
• “Thank you! Who else?”
Aim to collect 3–4 examples so everyone hears a variety of experiences.
Model Timeline Creation (7 minutes)
“Now that we’ve brainstormed some events, I want to show you how to record them on our timeline. Watch closely as I fill in one row of the Timeline Graphic.
Advance to the Model Timeline Example slide in the Past to Present Slides deck.
Event: First day of 5th grade
Date: September 5, 2023
Impact: I felt proud that I could learn and make new friends, which showed me I can adjust to new situations.
Notice how I included a feeling word—proud—and explained what that feeling taught me about myself. Descriptive details like that make your reflection deeper and more meaningful.
If you look at the headings on our timeline worksheet, you’ll see three columns: Event, Date or Age, and How did this change your perspective? That’s exactly what we just practiced.
Personal Timeline Development (10 minutes)
“Okay, friends, now it’s your turn! Please take out your Timeline Graphic worksheet and a pencil.
- In the first row, write your first life event.
- In the next column, add the date or your age at that time.
- In the third column, write one sentence about how that event changed your perspective.
If you get stuck, you can start with ‘This event showed me…’. If you want an extra challenge, add a sensory detail—like what you saw, heard, or felt—or think about how it influenced you later.
I’ll walk around the room to help. If I come by your desk, I might ask:
• “Can you tell me more about why that moment mattered to you?”
• “What did you learn from that experience?”
• “How did it change how you see yourself or others?”
Keep working until I call ‘Three minutes left.’ Then you can start your next row.
[Circulate and support students as they write. Give a one-minute warning before time is up.]
Pair-Share Reflections (5 minutes)
“Time to share! Find a partner and sit so you can both see each other’s timeline.
When it’s your turn to share, read one of your events and the sentence about how it changed your perspective. While your partner listens, they should use their Reflection Journal Page to write one question or connection. Good prompts are:
• ‘How did that make you feel?’
• ‘What surprised you about that event?’
• ‘When did you first notice this change in yourself?’
I’ll give you two minutes per person. Go ahead and begin now.
[After two minutes, say:] Great! Now switch roles so both partners have shared.
[Once pairs finish:]
“Who would like to share one question they asked or something interesting they learned from their partner?”
[Allow 2–3 quick shares.]
“Fantastic work today. By mapping our story events and reflecting on how they shaped us, we learn more about ourselves and each other. Well done!”