Story Map Creations: Artistic Storytelling Settings
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Story Map Creations: Artistic Storytelling Settings

Grade 5English8 days
The "Story Map Creations: Artistic Storytelling Settings" project for fifth-grade English students involves designing detailed maps to illustrate and enhance story settings. Through activities such as exploring virtual reality worlds and deciphering mysterious maps, students will analyze how settings influence narratives and apply different writing styles. The project encourages creativity, detailed observation, and collaboration, culminating in the creation of a vibrant artistic map accompanied by explanatory and descriptive texts.
StorytellingNarrativeArtistic MapsWriting StylesCollaborationFifth Grade
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we create immersive and detailed maps that illustrate and enhance the story settings, helping us understand the characters, plot, and different writing styles?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How do story settings influence the narrative of a story?
  • What elements are essential in creating a detailed and engaging story setting?
  • How can maps be used to enhance storytelling and understanding of a story's world?
  • What are the differences between narrative, informational, and opinion writing, and how do they contribute to storytelling?
  • How does understanding the setting help us comprehend the characters and plot of a story?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will analyze how story settings influence the narrative of a story.
  • Students will identify and incorporate essential elements in creating a detailed and engaging story setting.
  • Students will use maps to enhance storytelling and demonstrate understanding of a story's world.
  • Students will differentiate between narrative, informational, and opinion writing, and analyze how these styles contribute to storytelling.
  • Students will explain how understanding the setting aids in comprehending the characters and plot of a story.
  • Students will create a detailed map that illustrates and enhances the story setting.

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3
Primary
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.Reason: This standard aligns with the project as it involves writing narratives to develop real or imagined story settings, using details that can be represented through maps.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7
Primary
Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text.Reason: Creating maps as visual elements will help students understand how these elements can support and enhance the comprehension of written texts.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2
Secondary
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.Reason: The project requires students to create maps accompanied by descriptions that explain the setting, aligning with the creation of explanatory texts.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1
Secondary
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.Reason: Understanding and reflecting on different writing styles, including opinion writing, is part of the inquiry framework.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Virtual Reality Story Worlds

Introduce students to immersive virtual reality story worlds where they can explore different map settings. This technological entry sets the stage for students to imagine how they can translate these virtual experiences into detailed, artistic story maps.

Mysterious Map Arrival

A mysterious map appears in the classroom, covered in intriguing symbols and riddles. Students are tasked with deciphering its purpose and origin, sparking a deep dive into understanding how stories are mapped and crafted, leading to a project of creating their own story maps.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Imaginative Setting Exploration

Students will explore various fictional settings in virtual reality to stimulate their imagination and inspire creative storytelling. They will note down key elements to incorporate in their story maps.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Engage with a virtual reality platform that showcases diverse story settings.
2. Identify and list elements that capture attention and could be used in creating a new story map.
3. Discuss in groups what makes certain settings memorable and engaging.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA list of key elements and features that make an engaging story setting.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7 by helping students analyze how visual elements enhance comprehension.
Activity 2

Mysterious Map Deciphering Challenge

Students collaboratively solve riddles and decode symbols on a mysterious map, unveiling its story and purpose, which serves as a springboard for understanding narrative elements.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Examine the mysterious map and identify all symbols and clues.
2. Work in teams to interpret the significance of each symbol and clue, hypothesizing the map's story and purpose.
3. Share interpretations and agree on a cohesive story for the map's origins and significance.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA summarized story explaining the mysterious map's origins and its narrative.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3 by developing narratives about imagined experiences.
Activity 3

Story Map Blueprint

After gathering inspiration and understanding narrative elements, students draft a blueprint for their story map, outlining the essential components of their chosen story setting.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a story or create an original one that will be represented.
2. Outline key areas of the setting to be illustrated in the map.
3. Detail observational notes describing specific features, events, and settings that will be part of the map.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed blueprint and outline of the story map, highlighting the setting's key features.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2 by guiding students to write explanatory texts describing the map's elements.
Activity 4

World-Building in Art

Using the blueprint, students will create artisanal story maps employing various art tools, showcasing their understanding of how settings can affect narratives.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Gather art tools such as colored pencils, markers, and drafting materials.
2. Use the blueprint to begin sketching the map, paying attention to scale and detail.
3. Color and refine the map, emphasizing depth and the atmosphere of the story setting.
4. Write a descriptive passage about the setting depicted in the map.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA polished and artistic story map, accompanied by a descriptive narrative passage.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3 by allowing students to build on narratives using descriptive details and visual elements.
Activity 5

Reflection and Writing Style Workshop

Students evaluate their own and their peers' story maps, reflecting on the differences between narrative, informational, and opinion writing styles in enhancing the story's world.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Display all completed story maps for peer review and discussion.
2. Reflect on how the maps use narrative, informational, and opinion styles effectively.
3. Conduct a workshop where students can give and receive constructive criticism for storytelling techniques used in the maps.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA reflection journal entry assessing the impact of different writing styles used in the story map project.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1 by promoting analysis and reflection on opinion writing and other styles in the story maps.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Story Map and Narrative Rubric

Category 1

Narrative Details and Creativity

Assessment of the narrative's complexity, character development, and overall creativity in building a story map.
Criterion 1

Complexity of Story Setting

Evaluates how well the story map illustrates a complex, immersive story setting.

Exemplary
4 Points

The story map intricately depicts a highly detailed and immersive setting, reflecting a sophisticated understanding of the narrative environment.

Proficient
3 Points

The story map clearly depicts a detailed setting with significant elements, showing a thorough understanding of narrative environments.

Developing
2 Points

The story map depicts a setting with some details but lacks depth, showing emerging understanding.

Beginning
1 Points

The story map struggles to depict a coherent setting, with minimal details.

Criterion 2

Creativity in Map Design

Evaluates the originality and creativity applied in the design and illustration of the story map.

Exemplary
4 Points

The map shows exceptional creativity and originality, incorporating innovative elements that captivate the audience.

Proficient
3 Points

The map demonstrates notable creativity and originality, with clear and engaging elements.

Developing
2 Points

The map shows some elements of creativity but lacks consistency in application.

Beginning
1 Points

The map lacks originality and creative elements are minimally applied.

Category 2

Descriptive and Explanatory Writing

Evaluates the effectiveness of descriptive and explanatory passages accompanying the map.
Criterion 1

Descriptive Detail

Assesses the richness and accuracy of descriptive language used in explaining the map's setting.

Exemplary
4 Points

Descriptive passages are rich with detail, vividly illustrating the map’s setting with clarity and depth.

Proficient
3 Points

Passages provide clear descriptions that accurately convey the setting with good detail.

Developing
2 Points

Passages contain basic descriptions that convey the setting with minimal detail.

Beginning
1 Points

Descriptions are vague and incomplete, insufficiently conveying the setting.

Criterion 2

Explanatory Clarity

Evaluates the organization and clarity of explanatory texts that accompany the map.

Exemplary
4 Points

Explanatory texts are exceptionally clear and well-organized, effectively conveying information about the map.

Proficient
3 Points

Explanatory texts are well-organized and present clear information about the map.

Developing
2 Points

Explanatory texts present some information clearly but are inconsistently organized.

Beginning
1 Points

Explanatory texts are disorganized and provide unclear information.

Category 3

Integration of Writing Styles

Assessment of how narrative, informational, and opinion writing are integrated into the story map.
Criterion 1

Use of Multiple Writing Styles

Evaluates how narrative, informational, and opinion writing styles are combined and applied to enhance the story map.

Exemplary
4 Points

Effectively integrates narrative, informational, and opinion writing to enrich the map's content and engagement.

Proficient
3 Points

Uses narrative, informational, and opinion writing styles clearly to enhance content.

Developing
2 Points

Applies multiple writing styles with some success; however, connections are not fully developed.

Beginning
1 Points

Minimal application of varied writing styles, leading to a limited presentation.

Category 4

Collaboration and Reflection

Evaluates student ability to collaborate effectively and reflect on peer feedback.
Criterion 1

Collaborative Engagement

Assesses student participation and leadership in group activities and discussions.

Exemplary
4 Points

Consistently demonstrates leadership in group activities, facilitating collaboration and shared learning.

Proficient
3 Points

Engages effectively in group activities, contributing meaningful input and support.

Developing
2 Points

Participates in group activities with emerging leadership and collaboration skills.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows minimal participation in group activities, needing support to engage.

Criterion 2

Reflective Thought

Evaluates the depth and quality of individual reflection on the learning process and peer feedback.

Exemplary
4 Points

Reflections are insightful and demonstrate a high degree of self-awareness and application of peer feedback.

Proficient
3 Points

Reflections are thoughtful and incorporate peer feedback effectively.

Developing
2 Points

Reflections show initial self-awareness but lack depth and application of feedback.

Beginning
1 Points

Reflections are basic, with limited insight or application of feedback.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

In what ways did creating a story map enhance your understanding of narrative, informational, and opinion writing styles?

Text
Required
Question 2

How effective do you think your story map was in illustrating the key elements of the story setting?

Scale
Required
Question 3

Which part of the story map creation was the most challenging, and how did you overcome it?

Text
Optional
Question 4

Reflect on the feedback you received during the peer review session. What insights did you gain from discussing your map with others?

Text
Required
Question 5

What elements do you believe are essential in creating an immersive story setting, and were you satisfied with how you incorporated these into your map?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Detailed descriptions
Visual elements
Character interactions
Plot development
Atmosphere