Story Volcano + Lesson Plan

This is a planning tool for stories that imagines them as volcanoes to encourage more exciting writing!

This resource is part of lesson 12 of my Adaptabubble Unit – three weeks of lessons that can be adapted to any text or theme. The included lesson plan contains suggestions for starters, a child-friendly explanation of the lesson, differentiation and plenary. The full unit will probably be available from Easter 2021.

Stories start by introducing normality, then increasing tension and conflict until the big climax when the characters are facing the biggest problem of their lives! This requires a clever solution and then the characters can have a happy or sad ending.

It may not be the subtlest of metaphors but a volcanic eruption excites young writers to make their climaxes to be really powerful. Like a story mountain, the height of the slope indicates how tension is rising and falling on either side of the climax. However, the image of lava bubbling up and exploding can help the tension run through your story. The smoke, falling debris and dribbles of lava can introduce the advanced concept of foreshadowing as ominous signs of future problems.

The resource is available in full colour but I recommend the black and white version for printing purposes. I hope to make this fully editable in the future. Please contact me for further ideas at adaptabubble@gmail.com.