Visual Lesson
Plot Mountain
Climb the story arc: place each event where it belongs — exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
Three Little Pigs
Tap an event below, then tap the stage it belongs to.
Every story climbs a plot mountain: it sets the scene (exposition), builds tension (rising action), peaks at the climax, eases off (falling action), and finally settles (resolution).
What is a plot diagram?
A plot diagram — often called a plot mountain or Freytag’s pyramid — shows the shape almost every story follows. The line climbs as tension builds, peaks at the most exciting moment, then comes back down as things are resolved. Naming the five parts helps readers follow a story and helps writers plan one.
The five stages
- Exposition — the beginning, where we meet the characters and the setting.
- Rising action — the problem and conflict grow, building tension.
- Climax — the turning point: the moment of highest tension at the top of the mountain.
- Falling action — events wind down as the story heads toward its end.
- Resolution — the ending, where the conflict is finally settled.
How to use this tool
- Pick a story at the top — a familiar tale like The Three Little Pigs or The Tortoise and the Hare.
- Tap an event card in the tray to choose it (you’ll hear it read aloud).
- Then tap the stage where it belongs on the plot mountain.
- A correct placement sticks and turns green; a wrong one gives a gentle nudge so you can try again.
- Place all five events to hear the whole plot read back. Use Next story to try another.
Why it helps
Sorting real events onto the arc turns an abstract idea into something you can see and do. Once the plot mountain is familiar, students can spot the climax in a novel, summarize what they read, and outline stories of their own with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Good for
Grades 5–12 reading comprehension, literary analysis, and narrative writing.
Bring it to a lesson
These tools pair with the full curriculum — guided lessons that teach each concept, then send you here to see it and practice.