[powellstarkey]

I wanted to share some activities that I have done recently or I have done in the past with short stories.

I have done an illustrated plot diagram. Where students have to identify the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. Then they ilustrate what they have said happened during each of those key points in the story.

I have had my students to turn the short story into a comic strip. Their comic strip must include the elements of plot. I tell the students that the story should not be lost in translation.

I have had students to take a character from the short story and do an acrostic poem. I have them describe things the characters does or says using the beginning letters in the characters name to begin their sentences.

I have had students write a new ending to the short story.

I have them create new cover art for the short story.

I have had my students summarize the short story in 25 words.

I just wanted to share these ideas with you. If you are ever in need of an idea, I hope you consider a few of these to add to your plans.

[ajmm115]

Great list of ideas. To that I would add -

Rewriting part or all of the story from another character's viewpoint.

Rewriting a few paragraphs in another language. (I taught at a school that was a mini-United Nations)

Making story soup - a list of ingredients (a thirteen year-old girl, a telephone, a friend, a necklace) then directions for making the soup. Put a 13 year old girl on a farm in the middle of Iowa; add her BFF and a store catalogue; season with a birthday coming up and stir with hints. You get the idea.

In any character's personna, write a letter to Dear Abby - and her response.

Change the ending, rewriting it in a different tone.

[powellstarkey]

do some sort of product for some of the selections I read. We are reading a selection about a boy who is very appreciative of the time he can spend with a writer that comes to his area where he is in an orphanage at. He likes her some much he doesn't want her to pay him or give hims treats when he does jobs for her around her house. He also doesn't want her pity so he lies to her about having a mother.

With this, I am having the students write a letter of thanks to anyone in their family and present it to them at Thanksgiving. If they do present it, I would like them to share the reactions of the person that recieved their letter.

I hope this will go over well.


I also had students draw a stick man or woman depending on the characters gender. I would have them write down things about the character based on the five senses.

[chocaholic]

for each of our short stories we make theme strips. We talk about possible "life lessons" or "themes" that the author is trying to make us aware of and then we decide on the most important one for our class. I have two students volunteer to make the theme strip. Basically, it's a long strip of paper with the theme written on it. They decorate it with symbols that fit the theme and write the story title at the bottom. These go up on the wall under the heading, "Life Lessons from our Readings". They refer to them a lot in their discussions.

I love the idea of summarizing in 25 words and also the recipe idea- will have to add those to my list of ideas!
Thanks!

[maryw]

Wow I feel like I am getting so many ideas tonight- I didn't expect to be here so long. Thanks for Giving (So if you are the Giving part I'll be the Thanks part tonight) Perhaps soon I will be the giving part- I'm hoping the upcoming days off will give me the break I need to get excited again. Been a little too overwhelmed of late.

[mimi6]

Getting ready to start another novel and will definitely type up this list of ideas to refer back to....