This document outlines a 5-day lesson plan for a high school creative writing class focusing on superheroes and storytelling. The class consists of 20 students who have taken previous creative writing courses. Each day will include watching videos, completing webquests, and posting and commenting on a class forum to discuss different elements of storytelling like setting, character, plot, and backstory. By the end of the week students will synthesize what they learned to write and present a pitch for their own superhero story. Technology like YouTube, blogs, and forums will be utilized daily.
2. Analyze the Learners
Analyze Learners- 12 Girls, 8 boys. 14 white. 5 African American. 1
Hispanic. Students are either Juniors or Seniors in High School and have
completed at least one previous creative writing course during their
Freshman and Sophomore year. Prior to begging this class, Students
were instructed to watch Star Wars: A New Hope as it will feature
prominently during the class discussion. The students are mostly
middle class, and have ready home access to the internet. Almost all of
the students have smart phones. The school has several computer labs
that students can freely use after hours.
3. Day 1- Introduction to the idea of superheroes and storytelling. Students will
participate in the superhero webquest, which will involve their first post on the Class
Forum. Students will then comment on each others posts after school, a pattern
which will repeat itself each day this week. Students will do homework on analyzing
a trailer from the movie Push and bring it to class on day 2
Day 2- Students will turn in their homeowrkk from day 1 and discuss their theories
in class. Students will watch Writing with Jane episode on the Importance of
Storytelling. Students will discuss in class posters and their own favorite settings
from tv and movies. Students will post and comment upon Setting on the class
forum.
Day 3- Students will watch Kara and Asimo videos and compare the two o further
develop the idea of Character. Students will complete the Character webquest
provided and post and comment upon the Class Forum In addition they will view
homework on the Class blog and have it done for Day 5
4. Day 4- Students will watch videosabout Story vs Plot and then view The Blackwater
Gospel and discuss the elements of the plot with the teacher. Students will then post
and comment upon the class forum.
Day 5- Homework will be collected and reviewed and discussed with the class as a
whole. Students will watch a video about the elements of backstory. Then view The
Gift and discuss their theories on the backstory to the Gift. Students will post and
comment on the forum in Backstory. Students will be instructed to revise and
rewrite their posts from the week and turn them into a full pitch for their superhero
movie, to be briefly presented to the class on Monday.
5. Use of Technology
Each day, the students will see multiple movies presented on Youtube.
They will utilize Zunai webquests, blogger, twitter, podcasts, and many
many others. Students will encounter many web based tools and use
them to further their education.
6. Sources
• Apelcline, K. (n.d.). The Elements of Good Storytelling. Retrieved December 9, 2014, from
http://www.skotos.net/articles/GoodStorytelling.html
• ASIMO and Beyond: The history of Honda's robotics program. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5CViTDt2LY
• Brockway, R. (2013, April 17). 5 Badass New Sci-Fi Movies You Can Watch on Your Lunch Break. Retrieved
September 21, 2014, from http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-badass-new-sci-fi-movies-you-can-watch-your-lunch-
break/
• Curry, V. (Actor). Cage, D. (Director). (2012). Kara [Online video]. Youtube: Quantic Dream. Retrieved
September 20, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0KTUysrwgQ
• Mathorne, B., Sorensen, T. T., Larsen, A. G., Nymand, R. C., Simonsen, M., Grenlund, T. H., & Sloth, E. J. (Actor).
(2011).The Backwater Gospel [Online video]. Vidburg Denmark: The Animation Workshop. Retrieved
September 20, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXMdFGxrWik
• Mclinden, S., & Tardios, G. (Actor). Haccoun, J. (Director). (2013). Paradox [Online video]. Youtube. Retrieved
September 20, 2014, from http://www.paradox-short.com/
• PUSH MOVIE - Official trailer 2009 HD. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi8oDiMIr0Y
• Rinsch, C. E. (Director). (2012). The Gift [Online video]. Barcelona Spain: Youtube. Retrieved September 20,
2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eIMafROjyo
• Writing with Jane: The Importance of Setting. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEkUzIjAe8k