Lesson 4.2 Key Elements of a Short Story
Learning Goals: By the end of this lesson you will be able to
(1) Understand the key elements of a short story, including themes and mood.
(2) Identify and define the key elements of a short story, and provide examples of how each element is used.
(3) Work collaboratively and independently during the assignment work period and during group tasks.
(4) Utilize classmates and peers as resources for story building.
- (8:00 pm - 9:30 pm)
- Announcements: Unit Test Graded, Assignment Due Date Reminders, Student/Teacher Conferencing
- Icebreaker: Moody Mystery
- PowerPoint: Themes, Moods, and Tone
- Group Activity: Brainstorming with Jamboard
- Forum: Story Building + Peer Feedback
(9:30 pm - 9:45 pm)
- BREAK
(9:45 pm - 11:15 pm)
- Work Period: "Analyzing a Story", "Forum: Story Building + Peer Feedback"
- Wrap-Up Announcements: Unit Test Graded, Class Observation, Assignment Due Date Reminders, Student/Teacher Conferencing
- Exit Card
- PART 1:
For this exercise, you will be required to write a paragraph about your main character, and another paragraph about the setting of your story.
Things to consider about your character:- What is my character's name?
- How old are they?
- What do they look like?
- What do they do?
- What is their personality like? What are their likes and dislikes?
- What is their goal or motivation?
Things to consider about your setting:
- Where in the world does your story take place?
- What year is it? Does your story take place in the future, or in the past, or maybe even in an alternate universe?
- What time of year is it? Is it winter, summer, spring, or fall?
- What is the weather like?
- What is the scenery like? Does it take place near mountains, in the city, in the desert, in the ocean, or maybe even in space?
PART 2:
After you have posted your two paragraphs, pick a classmate and respond to his/her post. Give a suggestion on what potential conflicts their character may face later on in the story.
For example, if Susie wrote about a curious little girl who found a magical stone, and the girl lived in a dangerous and busy neighbourhood, perhaps you could suggest that a potential conflict could be that the magical stone gets stolen by jewel thieves OR maybe she loses the stone at school. - What is my character's name?
