Talking
What are some PROBLEMS in familiar stories?
The end of a story usually comes when the main character(s) solve the problem. How do the problems we've mentioned get solved?
New Solutions
If necessary or desirable, add a few characters from other stories.
Have the class come up with alternate solutions to the problem in the story.
Do this as a verbal exercise with the whole class.
Small group stories
Each group takes the same (new) story/problem and comes up with an individual solution, which they act out.
Watch that each group does their own work rather than trying to eavesdrop on each other.
Talk
How do these two kinds of characters relate to the PROBLEM?
On board, come up with two lists-one of "Good Guys," and one of "Bad Guys."
Go back to the top.
PERIOD
TWO
Preparation
Pair scenes
In front of class, two students at a time select cards-one from each stack-and act out a short scene between these two characters.
Whole class helps to determine what the PROBLEM will be, and also makes suggestions on how to construct the story.
Do this as many times as time allows.
Talk
Have the class vote on one combination of "Good Guy/Bad Guy" they like best.
Stress that they are not voting for their favorite SCENE from last time, but only on the combination that seems to offer the most possibilities.
Write
Brainstorm a PROBLEM for our story. (Keep stressing that it need not be the problem we saw last week.)
Write the PROBLEM on the board as a story synopsis. "The Big Bad Wolf kidnaps Lois Lane and locks her in a closet full of Kryptonite."
Begin adding details to the story by asking questions:
Do we need any other characters?
Where is our story set?
What is the very first thing that happens in the story?
How will Superman solve the problem? (Or will our story have an unhappy
ending?)
What questions you ask will depend on the story that is developing. But by the end of this period, we should have a fairly detailed outline of the story.
PERIOD FOUR
Preparation
Story Party
Read the story in class, having students take turns reading.
There is an element of role-play here. We are authors celebrating the arrival of the first printing of our new book. Make it festive. THIS IS IMPORTANT! A lot of what makes this lesson work is the pride and ownership students take in their work and in the process of writing.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
I think it works well on its own, and:
If you are going to go on and make a play, I strongly recommend putting the story away for at least a month and doing something very different for a while before coming back to it.