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Free Story Map Templates (Word, PDF)

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Templates

FAQ

Do these templates include sections for modern storytelling elements like flashbacks or dual timelines?

Some story maps—like the ‘Arc GIS Story Maps’ and ‘Graphic Organizer’ examples—offer flexible sections you can label yourself. Others focus on classic structure (exposition, climax, resolution). For non-linear narratives, start with a basic template and add custom headers (e.g., ‘Past Event:’ or ‘Parallel Story:’) in Word. PDFs are static, so edit the Word version first if you need extra boxes.

How can I use these to teach nonfiction writing, like biographies or historical events?

Treat the story map as a ‘chronology + themes’ tool. Label sections ‘Key Moments,’ ‘Turning Points,’ and ‘Legacy’ for biographies, or ‘Cause,’ ‘Effect,’ and ‘Significance’ for history. The ‘Free Printable Story Map’ in PDF works well for group projects where students fill in a shared timeline. For research papers, use Word to add a ‘Sources’ row alongside events to track evidence.

My students are visual learners—are there templates here that incorporate symbols or icons?

The ‘Graphic Organizer’ and ‘Arc GIS Story Maps’ templates include space for simple icons or stickers (print and paste your own). For digital use, open the Word versions in PowerPoint to add clipart, or overlay images onto the PDF as a background. Avoid relying on templates for pre-made icons—they’re text-based placeholders designed to work with any visuals you supply.

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