Steampunk ELA: Think Like a Holmes - Single Course or Semester

*This is a full semester course divided into four separate and individual parts (units). Each course is self-contained, allowing students to enroll in any course at any time or take all four courses consecutively (or in any order that they choose) for a full semester experience.  Please note that while individual courses may be taken without any previous knowledge and in any order, units 1-3 do involve reading four books from a novel series; therefore, students are encouraged to either take courses 1-3 in order, or, if enrolling in course 2 or 3, encouraged to read the previous novels covered from the series.  Courses in the series will be scheduled consecutively at the same scheduled times. Students wishing to continue the course will need to enroll in each unit separately.

**This listing is for UNIT 3 ONLY!! Please note that this course description contains information and a brief description for the entire 4-unit series/semester course; however, this is only a listing for "Steampunk ELA Unit 3: Think Like a Holmes."

***See learner video for book trailer ("The Clockwork Scarab")

Top-hats, waistcoats, Victorian dresses, and pocket-watches….

There is something about the steampunk fashion that is undeniably cool and a lot of fun, but there’s a lot more to steampunk than just looking the part. It is a part of our pop-culture as well as a literary genre far more encompassing than one might think. Originally the genre was defined by futuristic elements and technology in an alternate history powered by steam rather than any other fuel source, and typically sent in Victorian Europe or the American wild west. But the genre has gone way beyond those limits now.

To be honest, I didn’t know much about steampunk when I started creating this course. A parent was simply looking for a steampunk course for her daughter, and since I like the clothes, I figured I could make a class just as stylish.  With so many options I decided to focus on more on the Victorian style of steampunk, allowing me to combine novels with history, pop-culture, and fashion. I also decided to focus on heroines, because the only thing cooler than the clothes are the girls in the books kicking butt in those clothes.  

More than just clothes.
Daggers, crossbows, werewolves, vampires...

In this middle-school/early high school English course, students will dive into the steampunk genre, reading novels and studying modern pop-culture and the Victorian Era. Courses may be taken independently or combined to create a full semester course.

“Steampunk ELA” is designed as an alternative to traditional middle school English courses. This course is aligned with common core standards for grades 7-10. While this course does focus on the steampunk genre, in many ways the genre itself is a vehicle to promote interdisciplinary learning. The books read in this course are of high interest to students that are fans of  the steampunk genre. This opens the door for us to incorporate a variety of skills and knowledge including reading comprehension, literary analysis, critical thinking, and creative thinking, while at the same time studying the Victorian Era, both in terms of history and literature, technology, and modern pop-culture.  In addition to the readings, students will actively engage in group discussion and complete a variety of projects to further promote their learning and understanding of the texts and society.

This is a full semester course divided into four units. These four units can be taken as individual courses or can be combined to create a full semester experience with optional grading.


Course Structure
Students will read independently and complete a guided-reading packet for each novel.  This packet will be used to develop further understanding of the texts and literary devices, and to assist in promoting insightful class discuss. In addition, students will work to complete three projects with every unit. Class time will primarily be spent discussing and analyzing the novels as well as presenting and evaluating student project.  Each unit will follow the same structure and will identify, analyze, and teach a variety of literary devices as they arise within the novels. In addition, each unit will have a separate literary focus shared by the three novels within the unit.

In this course students will…
-determine theme;
-analyze plot and its various phases;
-examine how literary elements affect plot progression, assist in character development, and convey meaning, including: motif, symbol, foreshadowing, echoing, flashback, opposition, metaphor, irony, foil, choice of language; 
-understand the mono-myth (Hero’s Journey) and character archetypes;
-understand the qualities and characteristics of steampunk;
-develop an understanding of life in the Victorian Era;
-develop an understanding of modern pop-culture.


Project Overview (three projects per unit)
Each unit students will complete an ongoing course project, a mini-project, and a major unit project.


Mini-Projects
Mini projects are designed so that students may spend a short period of time each week working on a specific thematic idea in order to achieve a final and well finished project. Each unit will feature a different mini-project as it relates directly to the novels read.
Estimated time: 30-60 minutes per week

Major Unit Project 
Each unit will conclude with a final project. This project will have a direct tie in with both the novels read and the mini-project. Students will present these projects to the class on the final day of the unit.  In addition, they will also critique and analyze the work of their peers.


Unit 3: Think Like a Holmes

Literary focus: This unit will explore and analyze how mystery and puzzles create depth and meaning to a story, especially as these elements relate to the hero or heroine that solve them. Through mysteries and puzzles students will work not only on literary analysis, but also critical thinking skills.

Unit III: Think Like a Holmes
Novels
-"The Clockwork Scarab," Colleen Gleason
-Jackaby, William Ritter
-"Manners and Mutiny" (The Finishing Series, Book 4), Gail Carriger

Films
	-"Sherlock Holmes"
	-"Enola Holmes"
Projects
Ongoing Course Project: character and costume portfolio
	Mini-project: TBD
	Unit Project:  The Hatter’s Murder Tea Party: Students will dress in costume, bring a food project (made with clay or other materials, not real food), and attend an online murder mystery party. 


***This listing is for UNIT 3 only. Separate enrollment is required for each unit.  All courses will be scheduled consecutively. For a description of the full series (full semester), please read below 

Full Semester Outline (The 4-course/4-Unit Series)

Steampunk ELA

Unit I: Fight Like a Lady
Novels
-"Etiquette & Espionage" (The Finishing Series, Book 1), Gail Carriger
-"Curtsies & Conspiracies" (The Finishing Series, Book 2), Gail Carriger
-"Lady of Devices," Shelly Adina
Film
	-"Hugo"
Projects
Ongoing Course Project: character and costume portfolio
	Mini-project: Postcards
	Unit Project: Scrapbook or Yearbook
     
Unit II: Supernatural Weapons and Monsters
Novels
-"Waistcoats & Weaponry" (The Finishing Series, Book 3), Gail Carriger
-"Incarnation," Emma Cornwall
-"The Falconer," Elizabeth May
Film
	-"Van Helsing"
Projects
Ongoing Course Project: character and costume portfolio
	Mini-project: Building weapons
	Unit Project:  Create a board game, card game, or RPG
     

Unit III: Think Like a Holmes
Novels
-"Manners and Mutiny" (The Finishing Series, Book 4), Gail Carriger
-"The Clockwork Scarab," Colleen Gleason
-Jackaby, William Ritter
Films
	-"Sherlock Holmes"
	-"Enola Holmes"
Projects
Ongoing Course Project: character and costume portfolio
	Mini-project: Character Bag
	Unit Project:  The Hatter’s Murder Tea Party
     

Unit IV: The Mechanics of Time
Novels
-"Legacy of the Clockwork Key," Kristen Bailey
-"Ticker", Lisa Manchev
-"Steel Lily," Megan Curd
Film
	-"The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"
Projects
Ongoing Course Project: character and costume portfolio
	Mini-project: A novel in photos
	Unit Project:  Steampunk and you. A Styrofoam head sculpture.

 


Extension Courses
Addition courses will be available for further study.  These courses are not required but will often connect with the Steampunk ELA course. These courses will include one-time, multi-day, and flex-courses. 1:1 courses also available.

-Literary Analysis Essay Writing (four primary courses offered: character analysis, theme, symbolism and archetypes, and compare and contrast)
-Fractured Fairy Tales and Other Stories (a reading and creative writing course)
-Steampunk Theater Production
-Steampunk Character and Costume Portfolio Expansion
-additional courses to be added as they arise or by request