The Odyssey: A Crossroads of Choice
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we creatively reimagine a pivotal moment in The Odyssey using visual media and design thinking to explore the impact of narrative techniques on the story's ultimate outcome?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- How do narrative techniques shape a story's outcome?
- In what ways can a single decision alter the course of a narrative?
- How can we use visual media to represent alternative story paths?
- How does understanding archetypes and symbolism enhance our interpretation of literature?
- What are the ethical considerations of changing established narratives?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Analyze the impact of narrative techniques on the plot and character development in The Odyssey.
- Apply creative problem-solving and design thinking to reimagine a pivotal moment in The Odyssey.
- Develop storyboards using AI-generated images to visually represent alternative story paths.
- Evaluate the consequences of altering a key event on the overall narrative and themes of The Odyssey.
Teacher Provided
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsThe Alternate Ending Challenge
Present students with a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' style version of a key scene from The Odyssey, but with intentionally absurd and comical options. Task them with selecting the *least* logical choice and then seriously exploring the potential ripple effects on the entire epic. This challenges conventional interpretations and encourages creative problem-solving from an unexpected angle.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.The Pivotal Point Picker
Students identify and select a pivotal moment from The Odyssey that, if altered, would significantly change the course of the story. They will justify their choice with textual evidence.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA well-supported paragraph explaining the chosen pivotal moment and its potential impact, including textual evidence.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses 9.T.T.1.a by requiring students to identify and analyze a key element of story structure and provide textual evidence.Consequence Constructor
Students explore the immediate and long-term consequences of altering the chosen pivotal moment. They will map out how this change affects characters, plot, and themes.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA cause-and-effect chart and summary that maps the consequences of changing the pivotal moment.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses 9.T.T.1.a by exploring the interaction of story structure and character development as a result of altering a key event.AI-Visionary Storyboarder
Students will create a storyboard using AI-generated images to visually represent their reimagined version of The Odyssey, focusing on key scenes affected by the altered pivotal moment.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA completed storyboard with AI-generated images and captions, visually representing the altered narrative.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses 9.T.T.1.a by visually representing how changes to story structure impact the narrative, encouraging deeper understanding of narrative techniques.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioReimagining The Odyssey: A Narrative Transformation Rubric
Pivotal Moment Analysis
Demonstrates understanding of the chosen pivotal moment and its significance in The Odyssey, supported by textual evidence.Identification & Justification
Clearly identifies a pivotal moment and provides a compelling rationale for its importance, supported by textual evidence.
Exemplary
4 PointsIdentifies a highly significant pivotal moment with insightful justification and comprehensive textual evidence, demonstrating a deep understanding of the narrative's structure and themes.
Proficient
3 PointsIdentifies a pivotal moment with clear justification and relevant textual evidence, demonstrating a solid understanding of its impact on the narrative.
Developing
2 PointsIdentifies a pivotal moment with some justification, but the textual evidence is limited or not fully relevant, indicating a basic understanding of its importance.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to identify a clear pivotal moment or provide adequate justification and textual evidence, suggesting a limited understanding of the narrative's key turning points.
Impact Analysis
Analyzes the potential impact of altering the pivotal moment on the narrative's plot, character development, and themes.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a sophisticated and nuanced analysis of the potential impact, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of how altering the moment reshapes the entire narrative and its underlying themes.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear and thorough analysis of the potential impact, demonstrating a strong understanding of the interconnectedness of plot, character, and themes.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic analysis of the potential impact, but the connections between the altered moment and the overall narrative are not fully developed, indicating an emerging understanding.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to analyze the potential impact, with limited or unclear connections to the narrative's plot, character development, or themes, suggesting an initial understanding.
Consequence Mapping
Explores the immediate and long-term consequences of altering the pivotal moment, effectively mapping out the chain of events and their effects.Cause-and-Effect Articulation
Clearly articulates the cause-and-effect relationships resulting from the altered pivotal moment, demonstrating a logical progression of events.
Exemplary
4 PointsArticulates a complex and insightful chain of cause-and-effect relationships, demonstrating a deep understanding of how the altered moment ripples through the narrative with significant and far-reaching consequences.
Proficient
3 PointsArticulates a clear and logical chain of cause-and-effect relationships, demonstrating a strong understanding of the immediate and long-term consequences of the altered moment.
Developing
2 PointsArticulates some cause-and-effect relationships, but the connections may be weak or incomplete, indicating an emerging understanding of the consequences.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to articulate clear cause-and-effect relationships, with limited understanding of the consequences resulting from the altered pivotal moment, showing initial understanding.
Impact on Narrative Elements
Explains how the altered moment reshapes the story's central conflict and resolution.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a sophisticated and insightful explanation of how the altered moment fundamentally reshapes the story's central conflict and resolution, demonstrating a comprehensive grasp of the narrative's core elements.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear and thorough explanation of how the altered moment reshapes the story's central conflict and resolution, demonstrating a solid understanding of the narrative's key elements.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic explanation of how the altered moment affects the story's conflict and resolution, but the connections may be superficial or incomplete, showing an emerging understanding.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to explain how the altered moment reshapes the story's conflict and resolution, with limited understanding of the narrative's core elements, indicating initial understanding.
Visual Storytelling & AI Integration
Effectively uses AI-generated images to create a compelling storyboard that visually represents the reimagined version of The Odyssey.Scene Depiction & Narrative Clarity
Storyboard effectively depicts key scenes and maintains narrative clarity, allowing viewers to easily follow the altered storyline.
Exemplary
4 PointsStoryboard vividly depicts key scenes with exceptional narrative clarity, creating a visually stunning and easily understandable representation of the reimagined story.
Proficient
3 PointsStoryboard effectively depicts key scenes with clear narrative flow, providing a solid visual representation of the altered storyline.
Developing
2 PointsStoryboard depicts some key scenes, but the narrative flow may be unclear or inconsistent, hindering full comprehension of the altered storyline.
Beginning
1 PointsStoryboard struggles to depict key scenes, with significant gaps in the narrative and a lack of clarity, making it difficult to follow the altered storyline.
AI Image Integration & Visual Appeal
Effectively uses AI-generated images to enhance the visual appeal and storytelling power of the storyboard.
Exemplary
4 PointsSeamlessly integrates AI-generated images that are visually compelling and significantly enhance the storytelling power of the storyboard, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of visual communication.
Proficient
3 PointsEffectively integrates AI-generated images that are visually appealing and contribute to the storytelling power of the storyboard, showing a strong understanding of visual communication.
Developing
2 PointsIntegrates AI-generated images, but their visual appeal and contribution to the storytelling power of the storyboard are limited, showing an emerging understanding of visual communication.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to effectively integrate AI-generated images, with limited visual appeal or contribution to the storytelling power of the storyboard, indicating initial understanding of visual communication.