*Full Unit* Literary Elements in Story Writing (9 Lessons) - PDF + Google Drive

This unit is made up of 9 lessons on visual storytelling, with a focus on story elements. Most lessons highlight a different story element - point of view, perspective, setting, characters, conflict, topic, lesson, and theme. Other lessons teach the concepts of story structure, cultural differences in storytelling, and the art of comic books, all while utilizing visual storytelling to keep students engaged and intrigued. Pixar shorts, clips from popular children's films, and other shorts, are included in almost every lesson to ensure your kids love the way they are learning! The unit aims to allow students to show their creativity in many different ways and in many different situations.

For PDF version, click on the last item in the bundle. For fully customizable Google Drive version, click on individual lessons in the bundle.

Lesson 1 (Narrative Storytelling): This lesson introduces narrative storytelling through games, examples, and photos. Students will learn the difference between linear and non-linear stories, will learn what narrative storytelling is, what it is not, and will get the opportunity to re-write the story of Jack and Jill through selecting one of the many ways of telling a story (a movie idea, police report, news article, a comic strip, or creating an alternative ending). Students will get to show their creativity with this group project, and will have the opportunity to share out their posters.

Lesson 2 (Point of View and Perspective): This lesson introduces point of view and perspective through analyzing well-known stories with a critical lens, as well as through hypothetical situations, magazine covers, videos, and other activities. Students will have themselves questioning what they thought they knew, and the class will be full of discussion and excitement. The lesson ends with a worksheet based on perspective taking and writing.

Lesson 3 (Character Analysis and Setting): This lesson introduces character and setting through utilizing visual storytelling, specifically through watching and reflecting on many different videos provided. Students will discuss the setting that they are living life in, and will learn the ins and outs of character analysis, with heavy guidance.

Lesson 4 (Conflict): This lesson introduces conflict in stories through utilizing visual storytelling, specifically in videos, images, and films. Students will get to participate in an original Kahoot game based on their learnings, and will get to research their favourite film trailers for conflicts. The different types of conflict will be explored, and students will know everything they need to know about conflict before the lesson is over.

Lesson 5 (Linear Plot): This lesson introduces linear plots through visual storytelling, specifically in exploring shorts and fairy tales. Students will get to play a game as a class, fill out and learn about plot diagrams, watch a Pixar short, and re-create a fairy tale of their choosing. Students will learn the skills of substantiating their claims when analyzing videos for educational purposes, and will have a lot of fun doing it.

Lesson 6 (Story Spine): This lesson introduces story structures and story spines, through guided videos, an improv game in groups, analyzing short films, and creating original film ideas. Students will learn about story beats, and what makes a visual story run smoothly. This lesson includes the option for an extension project, which could last anywhere from one extra block to several weeks based on your choosing.

Lesson 7 (Comic Books and Graphic Texts): This lesson introduces the art of comic books by teaching students that there is more to comic book creation than meets the eye. Students will learn about the elements and story structures that go into comic books and graphic texts, and will get the opportunity to create their own mini comic book stories with very close guidance and a planning worksheet.

Lesson 8 (Cultural Differences in Storytelling): This lesson introduces the cultural differences of storytelling and visual storytelling through several engaging videos, discussions, and a research task where students will get to learn from one another. In this one lesson, students will get to learn about the storytelling differences in 24 cultures, in a way that will have it stick.

Lesson 9 (Topic, Lesson, and Theme): This lesson introduces the concepts of topic, lesson, and theme in stories. Visual storytelling is utilized to keep students engaged, through the analysis of several Pixar shorts and other short videos. Students will get a walk-through on each concept and end off the lesson with a drama game on what they learned, so you can rest assured that they will have grasped these complexities by the end of the lesson.

What's included?

Nine fully editable Google Slides lessons totalling 145 slides.

Nine PDF lessons totalling 145 slides.

- Includes discussion prompts, activities, videos, and all teacher guidance/notes found in the speaker's notes for each slide.

Thorough teacher's notes/lesson sequence Google Document for each lesson.

Instructions/material list for all games and activities.

24 original fully editable worksheets.

24 PDF worksheets.

2 bonus/extension projects.

One 9-page unit plan.

Nothing else is needed for this unit!