Name: _______________________________________ Date: _________________________
Wolf Kids Sample Plot Scaffold
Characters (in order of appearance)
Narrator/Writer Rhea Silvia Remus
King Amulius Gray Wolf Faustulus
Guard 2 She-wolf Acca Larentia
Guard 1 Romulus King Numitor
Narrator/Writer: The kingdom of Alba Longa. King Amulius is sitting on the throne, talking to
his guards.
(Describe the setting and this situation. Don’t forget to include images.)
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King Amulius: You say that Princess Rhea, my dear departed elder brother’s daughter, just
had twin baby boys. Well I helped him “depart” by throwing him out of
the country so I could get the throne for myself. It seems I am going to have
to help depart the little twins too. One’s throne can never be safe with
unwanted relatives about the place. Guards, go murder those brats!
Guard 2: Sure, sir.
Guard 1: We will do the old basket-in-the-river number.
King Amulius: Good choice---no blood, no mess, and no bodies. By the way, make sure the
basket leaks.
Guard 1: Nice touch.
Guard 2: No problem.
continued
Wolf Kids Sample Plot Scaffold (continued)
Narrator/Writer: The guards go and get the twin boys away from their mother.
(Write an image that describes this situation.)
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Rhea Silvia: What do you want with my children?
Guard 1: They are going to take some swimming lessons.
Guard 2: You can never start them too young.
Guard 1: Come little fishes, into the basket.
Guard 2: They are not fish. We are supposed to drown them, not fish with them.
Rhea Silva: You can’t drown my children. They are princes!
Guard 2: Sorry lady, we have our orders.
Rhea Silva: (What would she say? Write the character’s lines.)
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Narrator/writer: The guards take the boys, put them in the basket, and throw them in the
Tiber River. They float down the river, and just when they are about to sink,
they are rescued by a she-wolf.
(Write some images to make this more interesting to the reader.)
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Gray Wolf: Hey, what did you fish out of the river? Boy, are they ugly.
She-wolf: Well, they are a little strange looking, but I think I had a cousin once in the
jungle with a cub like this. She called him… something that started with an
“M” I think.
continued
Wolf Kids Sample Plot Scaffold (continued)
Romulus: (He cries and starts shoving Remus. Write an image that describes this
situation.)
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Remus: (He cries and starts shoving him back. Write an image that describes this
situation.)
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Gray Wolf: I think I’d call these two trouble. Look, fighting already.
She-wolf: It’s only sibling rivalry. I’ll feed them, and they will be fine.
Narrator/Writer: And so Romulus and Remus were cared for by the she-wolf until they
were discovered one day by a Shepherd named Faustulus and his wife Acca
Larentia.
Faustulus: Darling, look what I found out in our flock today. They were growling and
pulling on one of our sheep. A she-wolf came up to me and actually led me
to them.
(The boys start growling and pushing each other. Write an image that
describes this situation.)
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Acca Larentia: They are probably cute if they were cleaned up. Are you sure they are tame?
Faustulus: Don’t worry. It’s just sibling rivalry. They appear to be twins after all.
Acca Larentia: You know, they look a lot like Rhea Silvia. They have her eyes.
Faustulus: (What would he say? Write your own line.)
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continued
Wolf Kids Sample Plot Scaffold (continued)
Narrator/Writer: Acca raised the boys until they reached manhood and then she took them to
see King Numitor.
(Add some backfill to explain this to the reader.)
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Acca Larentia: Now boys, behave yourselves. We are going to see the old king, Numitor.
Romulus: I get to see him first!
Remus: You always get to be first! It’s my turn.
Romulus: It is not!
Remus: Is so, you toad!
Romulus: Dog face!
Acca Larentia: Boys! You are acting like wild wolves. Your highness, you’ll have to excuse
them---childhood trauma.
King Numitor: You know, they have my daughter’s eyes.
Acca Larentia: I thought so too. I think they are your long lost grandchildren.
King Numitor: I think you are right. Boys if you are, you must win back the throne from my
wicked younger brother, Amulius.
Romulus: Remus, I told you younger brothers were a pain!
Remus: How do you know I’m the younger? We’re twins. Maybe you’re the
younger! You’re a pain!
Acca Larentia: (What would she say? Write your own line.)
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continued
Wolf Kids Sample Plot Scaffold (continued)
Narrator/Writer: The boys went to Alba Longa and deposed King Amulius.
(Write a description of this happening in the story.)
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Romulus: Amulius, you will have to leave. You tried to kill us!
Remus: But we are back, so get off the throne!
King Amulius: (What would he say? Write your own line.)
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Guard 1: (What would the character say? Write your own line.)
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Guard 2: (What would the character say? Write your own line.)
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King Numitor: Now I have my old throne back. Thanks, boys. How about you two go build
a city of your own?
Remus: Great idea! How about a spot on the other side of the Tiber, one of those
seven hills?
Romulus: Let’s build it on the Palatine Hill.
Remus: No way, I like the Aventine Hill to the left of the Palatine Hill.
Romulus: Not THAT spot, this spot, and I’m building a wall, so there!
Narrator/Writer: Romulus built the wall and, to show its inadequacy, Remus leaped over it.
(Describe this situation.)
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continued
Wolf Kids Sample Plot Scaffold (continued)
Remus: (What would he say? Write your own line.)
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Romulus: (What would he say? Write your own line.)
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King Numitor: (What would he say? Write your own line.)
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Gray Wolf: (What would the Gray Wolf say? Write your own line.)
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She-wolf: (What would she say? Write your own line.)
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Narrator/Writer: (Write the last lines and resolve the plot.)
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