The students have already been exposed to the elements of plot, setting, character, point of view, and theme through lectures, discussion, film and a teacher-made photo-story.
Objective
To have students as a group create a story incorporating the elements of setting, character, point of view, theme and plot.
Procedure
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1) tell the students they will have to create their own photostory
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2) Review teacher-made photo story
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3) Review definitions of plot, setting,characters, point of view and theme.
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4) Brainstorm with students possibilities for stories and ways of showing plot, setting, character, point of view, and theme in these stories.
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5) Set aside as may class periods as necessary for students to work on project.
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6) Tell the students you will act as a consultant, but that the story must be their own.
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7) Assign the most capable student to be the “secretary” of the group to write down the information.
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8) Have the students as a group orally develop a rough outline of the story according to plot, setting, character, point of view and theme.
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9) Next, have the students develop a rough outline for each frame detailing plot, setting, character, point of view and theme.
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10) Have students recruit cast and find props for setting and costumes.
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11) Using rough outline have students photograph first set of pictures.
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12) Students will critique developed picture-story and refine rough outline.
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13) Using final outline students will photograph final story.
There are many follow-up activities which may accompany this lesson, suggestions are:
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1) Have students develop worksheets detailing the elements of their story.
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2) Have students make a bulletin board using the photos plus explanations of the five elements.
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3) Have students write a dialogue for the story.
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4) Have each student create a photo-story individually.
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5) Use a video-tape and have the students create a short video of a story.
Materials
Paper
Pen
Film
Costumes as needed
Props as needed
Video-tape Machine
(See John McAdams,
Besty Ross Middle School)
Instant Camera