In this unit, students learned how to use precise language and sensory detail to tell a "small moment" story. Students explored how to best draw the reader in so that the piece was experienced rather than observed. In essence, slowing the scene down for the reader. Students started by creating a storyboard with a partner. Partners then selected one scene from the storyboard and created a one sentence story lead. The partners then split up to independently write the scene. They then came back together, discussed and explored the craft each chose as authors. Finally, in a fishbowl activity collaborative teams presented and shared their comparisons of their pieces.
Now that I finished the unit, I learned that in creative writing, every sense is equally important. - Max Wang
The more I revised my writing, the more I liked the outcome. - Sally Lim
Storyboard
Slow Motion Small Moment
Student Presentation/Fishbowl Activity
"We saw a lot of high engagement with the storyboard, I was impressed with the high interest in the creation of story elements. The collaboration across learning communities contributed to the engagement in the project. The students found it challenging to sustain focusing on a small moment rather than moving forward with the plot. Really good dialogue on perspective and author's Craft took on increasing prominence. We wish we would have recorded and made video recordings of the final presentation.” - Matt Errico, Andy Lewis and Tara Musk
