The Most Dangerous Game Plot Diagram Activities- “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell officially became a part of the public domain last year. This iconic short story is captivating from its very beginning, a verifiable must-read for all middle and high school students. When I first read this story as a high school student, I remember loving the twists and turns of the plot.
The story begins with a conversation that foreshadows the rest of the tale with a focus on a hunter versus the hunted. At the start, we as readers get a glimpse of what the protagonist might encounter. And by the climax of the story, we experience the tension, fear, and desperation that pervades the one that is hunted. If you are teaching this awesome short story, be sure to allow students to take their time reading the resolution of the story…trust me, they will LOVE it!
Keep reading for teaching The Most Dangerous Game plot diagram activities and more!
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The Most Dangerous Game Plot Diagram & Other Activities
1. Pre-Reading Activities
As you begin to teach this short story, introduce and read aloud the standards you will be covering; explain that the focus will be on mastering the standards while reading. I know this seems basic, but highlighting that you will be teaching plot elements and theme will help your students to stay focused as they read!
Before reading…
1) You could find a video on big-game hunting or games involving survival in order to introduce your students to the topic.
2) You could also define the term THEME: The main message of a text.
Ex. People mature through a variety of experiences.
Ex. Obstacles help people to grow more than living an easy life.
Students can come up with their own “1 Sentence Themes” about a variety of topics: love, hate, jealousy, death, life, etc.
If there is time, have students share out; students need to understand that themes will always be formatted in complete sentences encompassing major ideas (messages). This process will help as they write their short responses!
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2. The Most Dangerous Game Plot Diagram Activity
Before teaching this activity, be sure to introduce and read aloud the standards you will be covering. Explain that the focus will be on mastering the standards in both of the activities.
Terms to Introduce/Review before starting The Most Dangerous Game plot diagram worksheet:
Exposition: the introduction to the characters, setting, and conflict; helps to set the stage for the reader
Rising Action: action that takes place after the exposition and leads up to the climax; develops the characters and builds suspense
Climax: the most important part of the story; highest point of action that causes a change in some way
Falling Action: action that takes place after the climax; leads to the resolution
Resolution: the end of the story that resolves the conflict, reveals a change or lack thereof in the main character, and ends with a reflection connected to the meaning of the story
You can use The Most Dangerous Game plot diagram activity below to help students organize their ideas! Want an easy-to-teach worksheet already done for you? Click here>>> The Most Dangerous Game Plot Diagram Activity Pack!
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3. Visualizing the Plot
When students see and then create, they remember! For each plot element, you can encourage students to draw images that link to the specific part of the story: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Also, by using a rubric, a student is not arbitrarily drawing images from the short story. Students need to support their ideas with direct connections to the descriptions and events in the story!
Need some simple short story ideas? Click below!
4. Plot Analysis Chart
Before using the chart below, read aloud the directions for The Most Dangerous Game plot diagram chart. Model how to fill out one of the entries like the exposition. You can work with the students to fill out the next part: rising action. After these 2 examples, students can work in groups, in pairs, or individually to fill out the rest of the chart. To differentiate, try giving each student a different element. Check out the digital version here >>> Plot Analysis Digital Pack
5. Plot Writing Short Response Idea
Short Response: Choose 1 plot element from “The Most Dangerous Game.” In what ways is this element important in the text? How does it contribute to the text’s meaning/theme?
You can differentiate by having students complete the short response for 1 plot element or 2 plot elements. If you have a paragraph outline, be sure to review the sentence-by-sentence structure as well as the rubric / rubrics; you have two rubric options to choose from in the pack below. After students have written the short responses, encourage them to share out. Hearing how other students write can be so helpful for struggling writers. Even if students simply share with a partner, let them take the time to learn from each other as they learn from The Most Dangerous Game plot diagram:)
The Most Dangerous Game Plot Diagram: Vital For Teaching!
Sometimes students need just a little bit of help, especially when it comes to reading comprehension and higher level literature! Reading a short story can be overwhelming at times, and remembering everything is quite impossible. Helping students out with a step by step process or incorporating multiple organizers can be transformative! By teaching and reteaching the plot elements through varied activities, it reinforces the meaning of the story and the themes within. Why not make this classic tale a part of this process?
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