Welcome to a year of exploration!


     As we begin this first trimester, the eighth grade will be undertaking their first PBL (project based learning) unit. We will spend about seven weeks investigating the question, "How do you write a really powerful story?"  
     Students will investigate this question by watching a TED talk on the power of a story to transform someone's life, reading several short stories by Edgar Allan Poe ("The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Cask of Amontillado"), Shirley Jackson ("The Lottery"), and O'Henry ("The Kidnapping of Red Chief").  We will then do animated storyboards in order to understand how to build a good story using plot elements.  Using an interactive collage called "Thinglink", students will collect ideas for settings, characters and objects to inspire the writing of their own story which will involve a "monster seed".  They will do research on one item from their story to make their writing more realistic.  Finally, they will work very hard to write their best 3-9 page story.  
      It will be my job to read all the stories and choose 5-6.  These  will be read to the class who will then vote for the best three.  The class will then be divided into groups to create scenery, sound effects, music, costumes and props to enhance the telling of the stories.  Each group will take over a room behind the stage in the cafeteria or in the basement of the rectory.  Here they will create the set for their story.
     Finally, at the end of October, the groups will present their stories to both seventh grades who will then vote for their favorite from each class (and eat the themed baked goods provided by the students.)  
    
      It is my hope that we will all learn a lot about what it takes to make a good story and have a lot of fun doing it.  I plan to be posting pictures and videos of some of the highlights of our powerful story experiment.