Dark Side/Light Side: Write a Digital Starwars "Choose Your Own Adventure"
In this course, students will use slideshow software (PPT, Google slides etc) to create a Choose your own Adventure Starwars story.
Cody Creed (BA/BED)
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(204)
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. The product of this class will be the beginnings of a choose your own adventure in digital form. Students will be expected to continue writing and expanding the story in the universe and then submit the completed work. They also will be encouraged to share their product with family and peers.Assessment
I will collect the digital stories at the end of class and after homework completion. I will provide written feedback as well as a letter grade. The letter grade will be based on the attached rubric. Criteria for the rubric involves: Use of the Decision Tree to sequence the narrative Skill with Powerpoint links and buttons (or other slide software) Creative connections to the Starwars Universe Originality in Story Development I will also collect any work that follows the class once more for further feedback. This interaction would be optional. Story artwork is encouraged but the assessment is focussed on writing.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
The goal of this class is that students learn the process for creating a digital Choose your own Adventure Starwars Story on powerpoint (or other slide show software). They should leave the class with a story that has at least 7 slides that tell different versions (I call them branches) of an adventure (based on choices.) Students will take an interactive walk through of an example Choose your own Adventure Starwars powerpoint. The exemplar and attached rubric will illustrate how a final product should look. Students will be given a personalized "starwars name" and "galaxy character class", with the option to use this character in the story. This option is best for students who are in need of a starting point. The course encourages creation of a unique protagonist and the development of several antagonists. The process for creating and writing a decision tree will be taught. My process as a STEAM teacher is to break down story into a visual chart that highlights character development, plot, antagonists, and rising conflict. The chart is provided to review prior to the class. Skills for creative writing within the Starwars theme will be taught. Students will discuss their connection to the media text and how what they have watched would be represented in the visual chart. Artwork is involved in the Exemplar but is not connected to the scoring rubric. Students will be given a template as a starting point. The template contains a powerpoint document with an example decision tree but does not contain any creative text.
Learning Goals
Students will improve written creative communication by developing a story with many endings but very few successful paths (this is the nature of a choose your own adventure story)
Students will learn the elements of a story and be able to contrast a traditional narrative structure to the narrative structure of a choose your own adventure.
Students will respond to media texts through thematic imitation. This is a media literacy skill. When we approach media texts as a creator instead of a consumer, we are able to better control our critical response to those texts. The Starwars universe is rich with contributions from inspired fans.
Students will improve skills using slide show media. Digital media is the most likely venue in which students will use ELA skills in the future. Skills with powerpoint and the "code" used to convert a powerpoint into a choose your own adventure will be valuable skills for students in their academic and possibly professional careers.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Students are encouraged to keep the content they generate age appropriate. Skills to build a "safe story to share" will be taught. The starwars universe has a conflict tone and the dark side is morally challenging. If your family dislikes the tone of the movies or cartoons in this universe, this might not be a good fit.
Supply List
For this class, you will need slideshow software. I have tested powerpoint, keynote, and google slides (listed above) any one of these will work for the decision tree and story sequence. If you want to include artwork, you will need whatever you use to make art. If you like to draw, you will need to digitize the pictures (photograph or scan them).
3 files available upon enrollment
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined April, 2020
4.9
204reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
I am a Certified High School ELA teacher. I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree as well as a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Winnipeg. I took several courses on curriculum instruction and assessment for High School ELA.
I have 11 years of professional experience teaching. In that time, I have found strategies to encourage reluctant writers and to celebrate creative story writing with a wide variety of ages and skill levels.
I have taught media literacy and creative writing and I am very comfortable in the digital world. I am skilled at turning academic tasks into mini video games, which is known as gamification.
I have been a fan of the Starwars universe for 30 years. I have taught and connected to the content from episodes 1-9 and Clone wars cartoon series.Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$25
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 6 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-13
2-7 learners per class
