Wings of Fire: Map Skills, Drawing, & Writing to Create a Fantasy World

Does your student like the Wings of Fire books or reading and writing in the fantasy genre?
In this class, students will combine knowledge about biomes, landforms, food webs, and natural resources to create a world for dragons. Through a series of video lessons, presentations, and worksheets, I will review and present some review background knowledge about mapping and biomes as well as the two islands in the Wings of Fire novel and how the dragons that live there are specially adapted to live in different parts of the islands. 

Before Class 1: Watch the welcome video and gather your supplies for class.

Lesson 1: Watch the video for week one and follow along with the handout that will be linked.
We will start with planning our worlds and a lesson about the background knowledge needed for this project. I will share a Google slide presentation in PDF form to inspire and help students plan their island. In the first week, students will start brainstorming and sketching our new worlds on the provided sheets. I will share some anonymous samples from past students and a drawn map.

Shared files: 
-Template for planning your world and getting started. (This will go with my Google slide presentation.)
-Video lesson
-I will also respond to your questions and to what you post.

Lesson 2: This week, we will look at some mapping skills and practice drawing landforms. I will attach a video that I have made I will show samples of famous maps related to novels. (Wings of Fire, Eragon, The Hobbit, and Lord of The Rings) There will also be a presentation on drawing maps and laying things out on a map. Students will lay out the design of their map and begin working on maps. This will be explained in the video.

Shared files: 
-Template for mapping your world and getting started on the map. (This will go with my slide presentation.)
-Video lesson
-I will also respond to your questions and to what you post.

Lesson 3: This week, think about the maps we have started, discuss character traits, draw dragons, and outline our stories. I will show my map and share some drawings of characters and talk about the characters in the novel series in a video lesson. I will also offer ideas for stories and demonstrate how to get started.

Shared files: 
-Template for planning your characters and getting started. (This will go with my slide presentation.) 
-Video lesson
-I will also respond to your questions and to what you post.

Lesson 4: This week, students will finish maps and dragon drawings. Students can share their maps through a narrated video, read their stories to the group, or post photos of their finished work and dragon drawings. 

Shared files: 
-In this presentation, I will share a finished map, characters, and a story. I will encourage students to share theirs with the class as well.
-Video lesson on where they can continue to build on this topic.
-I will also respond to your questions and to what you post.

I am skilled at differentiating content for many ages and learning needs in a kind and supportive style. I like to talk with students while they work and discuss and show what we are working on. Grades 3-9 are my favorite ages to teach and learn with. I will have a camera on my hand while I draw, but I will also be visible on the screen at specific points in the lesson. Students can ask questions as we go and add to their maps and stories based on prior experience. I have created and taught this unit with my students many times, in person and remotely, and it is such a fun unit to teach and learn!