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Teacher Resources by Grade
|1st - 2nd||3rd - 4th|
|5th - 6th||7th - 8th|
|9th - 10th||11th - 12th|
Developing Story Structure With Paper-Bag Skits
|Grades||6 – 8|
|Lesson Plan Type||Unit|
|Estimated Time||Five 50-minute sessions|
MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY
- Computers with Internet access
- Overhead projector and transparencies
- LCD projector for website modeling
Grades 6 – 12 | Student Interactive | Inquiry & Analysis
Students analyzing a play can map out the key elements of character, setting, conflict, and resolution for a variety purposes. This interactive is aimed at secondary students.
Grades 1 – 12 | Student Interactive | Organizing & Summarizing
The Plot Diagram is an organizational tool focusing on a pyramid or triangular shape, which is used to map the events in a story. This mapping of plot structure allows readers and writers to visualize the key features of stories.
- Story Elements Web
- Guidelines for Creating and Performing Skits
- Cooperative Group Roles
- Grading Rubric
- Conflict–Resolution Audience Guide
- Story Elements Web: Teacher Copy
- Drama Map Example: Teacher Resource
- Plot Diagram Example: Teacher Resource
|1.||Before this lesson, make sure students understand the importance of character, setting, and plot as elements of a story.
|2.||Plan heterogeneous cooperative groups with three to four students per group.
|3.||Prepare paper bags. One bag is needed per cooperative group plus one bag for teacher modeling. The size of the bags will depend on the size of the items selected for the bags. In some cases, lunch-size bags will be sufficient; gift bags work well too. Place five seemingly random items in each bag. (To simplify the modeling process, your bag can contain three items.) These items will be used as props in the skits. The following objects are examples:
|4.||Print and make a copy of the Story Elements Web, Guidelines for Creating and Performing Skits, Cooperative Group Roles, Grading Rubric, and the Conflict–Resolution Audience Guide for each student in your class. Make a transparency of the Story Elements Web.
|5.||Print a copy of the Story Elements Web: Teacher Copy, the Drama Map Example: Teacher Resource, and the Plot Diagram Example: Teacher Resource for your reference.
|6.||If you do not have classroom computers with Internet access, reserve a 50-minute block of time in your school’s computer lab for Session 2. Visit and familiarize yourself with the interactive Drama Map and Plot Diagram tools. Add both tools to the Favorites list on the computers your students will be using.
|7.||Make arrangements to move your class to an area with extra space for Session 3, so students can practice their skits.