Story Map Template with Center Circle

This free printable story map and graphic organizer helps students organize one central idea and connect it to related details, story elements, or supporting information.

The template features a center circle surrounded by four larger sections, plus an additional square area. This flexible layout can be used for story planning, reading comprehension, concept mapping, research, and classroom discussions.

Students can use words, short sentences, keywords, symbols, or drawings depending on the activity.

Classroom Ideas

Use this printable organizer to help students:

Plan the main idea and supporting details of a story
Organize story elements such as character, setting, problem, and solution
Record four key facts about one topic
Summarize a text or lesson
Organize ideas before writing
Create a visual plan for a project
Connect examples or evidence to one central concept
Prepare ideas for a class discussion or presentation
Organize research notes around one topic

Suggested Grade Levels

This graphic organizer is especially useful for Grades 2-6.

For younger students, teachers can place a picture, keyword, or short prompt in the center and use the surrounding sections for drawings or simple labels.

Older students can use the organizer independently for reading comprehension, writing preparation, research, and concept development.

How Can Students Use the Center Circle?

The center circle works well for the main idea, story title, topic, question, or central concept.

The surrounding sections can then hold related details, examples, events, evidence, or story elements.

The additional square area can be used flexibly for:

A visual summary
A conclusion
A drawing
A key quote
A final idea
A short written response

This makes the template more versatile than a traditional story map with fixed labels.

Ideas Across Subjects

Language Arts:
Place the story title or main idea in the center and use the surrounding sections for character, setting, problem, solution, events, or supporting details.

Reading Comprehension:
Use the center for the main idea and the surrounding areas for evidence, key details, examples, or important information from the text.

Science:
Place a scientific topic in the center and organize four related facts, properties, examples, or observations around it.

Social Studies:
Use the center for a person, place, event, or concept and organize related facts, causes, effects, or characteristics around it.

Writing:
Use the organizer before drafting to collect ideas and arrange supporting details around one central topic.

Explore More Graphic Organizers

Explore the full Graphic Organizer Templates collection for more free story maps, comparison charts, sequence organizers, and visual thinking templates.

You may also find these layouts useful:

Five-Section Graphic Organizer with Headline – useful for organizing one main topic into five supporting ideas.
Four Squares on a Small Circle – useful for connecting four supporting ideas to one central topic.
Blank Three-Column Chart – useful for comparing or sorting information into three broad categories.
3-Column 6-Row Chart – useful for structured comparison and information gathering.

FAQ

What is a story map with a center circle used for?
It helps students organize a central idea, story topic, or concept and connect it to supporting details, events, examples, or story elements.

What should students write in the center circle?
The center can contain the story title, main idea, topic, question, character, or central concept.

What can the surrounding sections be used for?
They can hold story elements, supporting details, evidence, facts, examples, events, or related ideas.

What grade levels is this printable suitable for?
It is especially useful for Grades 2-6. Younger students can use drawings and short labels, while older students can add more detailed notes.

Can this organizer be used outside language arts?
Yes. The flexible layout works well for science, social studies, research, project planning, and other activities that involve one central topic with related information.

Story Elements

Story Map Template – Center Circle