Words to know
plot
The events of a story, in order: a beginning, a problem, events, and an ending.
main plot
The most important storyline, usually about the main character.
subplot
A second, smaller storyline that happens at the same time.
cause
Why something happens.
effect
What happens because of the cause.
cause-and-effect chain
A series where each effect becomes the cause of the next event.
Remember from Grade 3
In Grade 3 you found cause and effect with signal words like because and so, and you found main ideas and sequenced events in a story.
In Grade 4, stories get bigger! Many chapter books have more than one plot happening at the same time. You will sequence each plot, explain how the plots connect, and follow chains of causes and effects.
Hook: Two TV channels at once
Have you ever read a book where one chapter follows one character, and the next chapter jumps to someone else? It's like switching between two TV channels. Smart readers keep track of both stories and look for the moment when they connect.
Read: Carnival Week
Monday. Noor had one goal: to finish the 200-metre race at the school Winter Carnival without falling. But every time she reached the corner of the rink, her skates slid out and she landed on her hip.
Meanwhile, her little brother Idris had his own goal. "I'm going to build the biggest snow moose in the whole carnival!" But the snow was cold and powdery. Every time he packed it, it crumbled like sugar.
Tuesday. Their cousin Bilal, who played junior hockey, came to watch Noor practise. "You're trying to glide around the corner," he said. "Use crossovers: step one skate over the other." Noor fell three more times. On the fourth try, she made it around.
In the backyard, Idris's moose collapsed for the third time. "Powdery snow won't stick," Grandma said. "Wait for a mild day."
Thursday. The temperature rose above zero. The snow turned wet and sticky. Idris packed it into a body, four thick legs and a head with branches for antlers. But the same mild day turned the rink to slush. Noor's practice was slow and splashy. "Slush makes you slow," Bilal said. "Keep your crossovers short and strong."
Friday. Overnight, the temperature dropped again. The rink froze hard, and Idris's moose froze solid. At the carnival, Noor crossed over at every corner. She didn't fall once, and she came in second. She ran to the judging tables. A ribbon hung from a snowy antler: Most Creative: Idris.
Main idea and supporting ideas in a story
In a story, the main idea is the big idea the whole story shows. It's often a lesson or message.
In Carnival Week, both plots show the same idea: When you keep trying and learn from others, you can solve problems.
Supporting ideas:
- Noor kept practising and learned crossovers from Bilal.
- Idris kept rebuilding and learned from Grandma to wait for sticky snow.
- Both reached their goals, but in different ways.
Notice how the two plots support the same main idea. Authors often use a subplot to show the main idea a second way.