Think It Through + Story Map
Days 6â8: Brainstorm & Organize Your Davy Crockett Legend
- Brainstorm ideas for setting, characters, problem, events, and ending using evidence from the encyclopedia
- Use a Story Map graphic organizer to plan the key elements of their Davy Crockett legend
- Organize narrative details into a logical sequence with a clear beginning, middle, and end
- Use the mentor text as a model for how to structure a legend
To quickly generate many ideas without judging or editing them. Brainstorming is about quantity, not quality â get all your ideas out first!
A graphic organizer that shows the key parts of a story: setting, characters, problem, beginning, middle, and end. A story map is your blueprint.
The sequence of events in a story â what happens from beginning to end. The plot is the backbone of your narrative.
To arrange ideas in a logical order that makes sense to the reader. Organizing turns a pile of ideas into a clear plan.
The order in which events happen in a story â first, next, then, finally. A clear sequence keeps readers from getting confused.
You've already done SO MUCH amazing work!
Now comes the FUN part â planning YOUR OWN legend!
Brainstorm ideas for every part of your legend: setting, characters, problem, events, and ending. Use your evidence from Days 4-5!
Use a Story Map to organize all your brainstorm ideas into a clear plan with a beginning, middle, and end.
By the end of Day 8, you'll have a complete Story Map â your blueprint for writing your Davy Crockett legend!
What is the THREE special features of a legend?
đ Thumbs up when you remember at least two!
"Write a legend about the real-life hunter and soldier, Davy Crockett, in an alligator-wrestling contest set in early 1800s Virginia."
Setting: Early 1800s Virginia â the Great Swamp
Main Character: Davy Crockett (with exaggerated traits)
Problem: Another wrestler challenges him for the title
Events: The alligator-wrestling competition
Use details from the encyclopedia and your writing assignment to complete the brainstorming activities. Your responses will help you write your legend.
How Brainstorming Works
Write down every idea that comes to mind â even wild or silly ones. Don't judge your ideas yet! The goal is to get as many on paper as possible. You'll organize them later.
Where does my legend take place?
Remember: Legends take place in REAL locations during a specific HISTORICAL time period.
Close your eyes and imagine the Great Swamp in Virginia, 1804. What do you see, hear, feel, and smell?
Towering cypress trees, murky green water, Spanish moss hanging low, alligators lurking in the shallows
Frogs croaking, birds screeching, the splash of a gator tail, the crowd cheering
Hot, sticky, humid air; mud squishing underfoot; sweat dripping; the rough hide of an alligator
Swamp water, damp earth, campfire smoke from the spectators, wild honeysuckle
Describe your setting to your partner. What does the Great Swamp of Virginia look like in your imagination? Add at least ONE sensory detail your partner hasn't thought of.
Sentence starter: "I imagine the Great Swamp has ___ because ___"
What EXAGGERATED characteristics does Davy Crockett have?
Heroes in legends have extraordinary skills â but they are NOT superhuman. They also have human flaws and weaknesses.
Heroes in legends are a lot like everyday people in many ways. What makes Davy extraordinary? What makes him regular?
What amazing abilities does Davy have?
What weaknesses or flaws does he have?
Notice: Lily gave Davy exaggerated strength, but also a human flaw (being a showoff). She also created a strong opponent to make the story exciting. Your character needs BOTH extraordinary AND ordinary traits!
- Write "Davy Crockett's Traits" at the top of your page.
- Draw a line down the middle. Label the left side "Extraordinary" and the right side "Ordinary/Human."
- List at least 3 extraordinary traits on the left (amazing abilities, skills, or talents).
- List at least 2 ordinary/human traits on the right (flaws, weaknesses, or everyday qualities).
- Circle the ONE extraordinary trait that will be MOST important to your legend.
Can a legend hero have superhuman powers like flying or turning invisible?
đ Yes or đ No
NO! Legend heroes have exaggerated but realistic abilities. They may be incredibly strong or brave, but they cannot have superhuman or magical powers. They're like real people â just turned up to 11!
Another wrestler challenges Davy for the title of Best Gator Wrestler. Who is this challenger?
Think about WHO would dare to challenge Davy Crockett. What would motivate them?
Why do they challenge him? Jealousy? To prove themselves? To become famous? For revenge?
What's at stake? Davy's title? His reputation? His pride? The honor of his community?
Your challenger should be a worthy opponent â someone who can actually challenge Davy. Think about:
Tell your partner about the challenger you've imagined. What makes this opponent dangerous enough to threaten Davy's title? How is the problem in your legend a REAL challenge?
Sentence starter: "My challenger is ___ and they're dangerous because ___"
What happens during the wrestling competition between Davy and his challenger?
Think about the sequence of events. What happens first, next, then, and finally?
Your plot should include 3-5 events that build toward the final showdown:
- Write "Events in My Legend" at the top.
- Number your events 1 through 5 (you can add more later).
- For each event, write one sentence describing what happens.
- Make sure each event builds tension â things should get more exciting!
- Star the event where things look most dangerous for Davy.
True or false: Your legend should only have ONE event before the ending.
đ True or đ False
FALSE! Good legends have multiple events that build tension and suspense. Each event should raise the stakes higher until the final showdown. One event would make for a very short, boring story!
How does Davy win the wrestling competition and keep his title?
The solution should connect to Davy's EXAGGERATED CHARACTERISTICS. He wins because of who he IS.
Does Davy use pure physical power to win the final match?
Does Davy outsmart the gator or his opponent with a clever trick?
Does Davy do something no one else would dare to do?
Does he use multiple traits together in a surprising way?
Key Lesson: Lily's solution connects directly to Davy's exaggerated traits. He wins through quick thinking, not just brute force. In her story, Davy uses a biscuit to distract his gator â a clever, surprising trick that only someone as quick-witted as Davy could pull off!
Your solution should connect to YOUR Davy's extraordinary trait. If Davy is brave, he wins through bravery. If he's clever, he wins through cleverness.
We brainstormed ideas for our setting, main character (extraordinary + ordinary traits), problem (the challenger), and events in the wrestling competition.
We'll finish brainstorming the solution and ending. Then we'll meet the Story Map â the tool that will help us organize ALL our ideas!
Yesterday you brainstormed setting, character, problem, and events. Today we'll finish with the solution and ending, then introduce the Story Map!
Quick Review: Turn to your partner and share ONE detail from your brainstorm yesterday that you're most excited about.
- Write "Davy's Solution" in your notebook.
- Look at the extraordinary trait you circled yesterday. This is HOW Davy wins.
- Write 2-3 sentences describing how Davy uses that trait to win the final match.
- Ask yourself: Does this solution make sense? Would my readers believe it?
What happens AFTER Davy wins? What is the result of the story?
The ending should feel satisfying â it wraps up the story in a convincing way. What does the reader learn?
Does Davy keep his title? Is he celebrated? Does he become even more legendary?
What about the challenger? Are they a gracious loser? Do they and Davy become friends? Rivals forever?
What does the reader learn? What makes Davy's story worth telling? What does it teach about heroism?
A satisfying ending does three things: it solves the problem, it shows the result, and it leaves the reader feeling like the story is complete. No loose ends!
- Write "My Ending" in your notebook.
- Describe what happens after Davy wins. How do people react?
- Write what the reader LEARNS from Davy's story.
- Ask yourself: Is this ending satisfying? Does it feel complete?
You now have TONS of brainstorm ideas!
But a pile of ideas isn't a story yet. We need to organize them. Before we do, let's look at how Lily Alfarsi organized HER ideas in the mentor text.
To plan her legend, Lily Alfarsi created the story map below. Study the map and read Lily's Think Aloud. Find out how she developed the plot of her legend.
Lily followed this structure. You will too! Now it's time to meet the tool that makes it easy.
A Story Map is a graphic organizer that helps you organize all your brainstorm ideas into a clear plan. Think of it as a blueprint for your legend.
The Three Parts of a Narrative (p. 78)
This is the blank template you'll fill in. You'll get a paper copy too!
Look at all the brainstorming you've done over the past two days. Now you'll transfer those ideas into the Story Map boxes. Here's the process:
What are the SIX boxes in a Story Map?
Can you name all six? đ Thumbs up when ready!
Olive is writing a different legend â hers is about a palace guard who recovers a stolen crown. Her assignment is different from yours, but she uses the exact same Story Map structure you will use. Let's study how she organized her ideas!
How do you think Olive developed her setting?
She used her own background knowledge about a place that had palaces and castles. (p. 79)
Olive's assignment gave her a palace guard who is clever and a quick thinker. She added his name (Pyken) and that he is an excellent climber and a little reckless. (p. 79)
Olive's legend is different from yours, but she used the same process: she took details from her assignment, added her own ideas, and made them logical, realistic, and exciting. (p. 79) You'll do the same with YOUR Davy Crockett ideas!
You've seen two story maps: Lily's (about Davy Crockett â the same assignment as YOU) and Olive's (a different legend about a palace guard). Now discuss YOUR ideas: What quality, object, or animal helps Davy win the competition? What events might add suspense, excitement, or humor? (p. 79)
Sentence starter: "In my legend, Davy wins because ___ and the most exciting event is when ___"
Finished brainstorming (solution + ending), reviewed Lily's and Olive's story maps, learned how a story map works, and analyzed Olive's example.
You'll complete YOUR story map using your brainstorm ideas! By the end of Day 8, your entire plan will be finished and ready for drafting.
Today is YOUR day. You have all your brainstorm ideas. You've studied Lily's and Olive's story maps. Now it's time to fill in your own!
Plan the parts of your legend by completing your own story map.
- Get your blank Story Map handout (or draw one in your notebook).
- Fill in Setting: Where and when? Use your sensory details from Day 6.
- Fill in Main Character: Who is Davy? What extraordinary + ordinary traits?
- Fill in Problem: Who challenges Davy? What's at stake?
- Fill in Beginning: How does your legend start? Set the scene.
- Fill in Middle: List your events in sequence. Build tension!
- Fill in End: How does Davy win? What's the result?
Use your brainstorm notes and fill in each box on your own. Raise your hand if you need help.
Share ideas with a partner. Help each other think through the story. Each person fills in their OWN map.
Come to the back table for extra support. Teacher Zach will guide you through each box step by step.
As you fill in your Story Map, ask yourself these questions:
You have the rest of class to work on your Story Map.
Use your brainstorm notes. Use a pencil so you can change ideas easily. It's okay to revise â a story map is a plan, not a final draft!
In the bottom of your notebook page, write one sentence explaining what you learned about planning a narrative legend using a story map.
Your Story Map is your BLUEPRINT for drafting!
Days 9-10, you'll use this map to WRITE your Davy Crockett legend!
Name the SIX parts of a Story Map and explain what goes in EACH box in one sentence.
What is the MOST exciting event in YOUR Davy Crockett legend? Write 2-3 sentences describing it.