CEClang.82


TITLE:  Stories That Grow on Trees

AUTHOR:  Patti Emley, Louisburg Elementary Middle
         School; Louisburg, Kansas

GRADE LEVEL:  Appropriate for grades 4-8.

OVERVIEW:   Most students are motivated to read
plot-choice novels such as Choose Your Own Adventure
and Twist a Plot, so writing their own choose-a-plot
book was an equal motivational challenge.

OBJECTIVE(s):   Students will be able to:
1.  Develop skills in creating plot structure.
2.  Think through a logical line of story action.
3.  Invent characters with striking physical and
    psychological attributes.

RESOURCES:
Teacher Materials: enlarged flowchart, copies of Choose
     Your Own Adventure Story for each student.
Student Materials: large envelope, large index cards-13
     for each student, tagboard, art supplies, and
     pencil.

ACTIVITIES:
 1.  Assign each student a commercially published
     plot-choice book to read.
 2.  Allow time for students to discuss their
     impressions of the stories they read.  Then
     brainstorm together to generate a list of
     qualities of most plot-choice books.
 3.  Choose partners and establish a work method and a
     schedule.  Each pair will receive a story
     flowchart.  This flowchart will help students
     create a 13-page book with seven different
     endings. (Cut back or add story parts to the
     flowchart to adjust for the ability level of your
     students.)
 4.  Model an experimental plot, using the flowchart to
     show how it can be used to develop the story.
 5.  Partners should decide who will be responsible for
     writing each part of the story.  To keep track,
     have the students write their name next to the
     section of their flowchart they are responsible
     for writing.  Each student should also collaborate
     and assist the other at every stage of the
     process.
 6.  Staple each story flowchart to a large envelope.
     Place 13 large index cards inside the envelope.
     Ask the students to label the cards to match the
     flowchart--from start to 2B-2 end.
 7.  Next ask the partners to brainstorm about possible
     characters, settings, and action starting points.
     Then ask then to choose the story elements that
     they will use.
 8.  Have the partners develop their story on the index
     cards.  The index cards help the students grasp
     that creating a story is putting together parts to
     make a whole.
 9.  Have the students edit and proofread.
10.  Have the students lay out the cards in flowchart
     order on the floor.  They will need to randomly
     number the index cards beginning with page 1 on
     the start card.
11.  Then have insert the cross-references-referring
     back to the flowchart and the labeled index cards
     to verify the order or the story parts.  12.
     Students should also design the title, dedication,
     and "warning" pages.
12.  Now it is time to publish.  This can be done on a
     computer or blank sheets of paper in the students
     best handwriting.
13.  Ask the teams to organize the pages, illustrate
     each page, design oaktag covers, and put the book
     together.  Make photocopies of each book so that
     each partner has one.


                       FLOWCHART

                         Start
         |---------------|--------------|
         |                              |
       Story                         Story
     Choice 1                      Choice 2
        |                              |
     |--|--------|               |-----|-----|
     |           |               |           |
    1A          1B              2A          2B
    |           |                |           |
 |--|     |-----|--|          |--|     |-----|---|
 |        |        |          |        |         |
end     1B-1     1B-2        end      2B-1     2B-2
         |        |------|             |         |
         |        |      |             |         |
        end     1B-3   1B-4           end       end
                  |      |
                  |      |
                 end    end


TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:   Encourage students to share
their plot-choice books with one another.  At a later
time, students may enjoy sharing the books with other
classes.  With the librarian's permission the books
would make a nice display in the library.  As the
teacher you will have many opportunities to work
one-on-one with students to review language-arts
skills.  But the most valuable outcomes will be the
surge in student writing enthusiasm and confidence.
Every student is an author and has a book to prove it.