Today, 2G dived into another “graphic” story and… saw Ibuki’s mum (or dad) patiently waiting with 4 clearly identifiable fish in her (or his) beak!
STORY STRUCTURE
In our digital age, we all see and hear a vast number of stories. One might conclude, reasonably perhaps, that telling stories is easy, a piece of cake, a walk in the park.
Not so.
Serious writers — professional writers — work hard learning how to tell stories well. A Robert McKee seminar is not cheap! Story structure is key.
2G has been learning a structure based on the Hero/ine’s Cycle:
We meet our main character in an identifiable setting
We see our character on a normal day
Then… something BIG changes everything! (And the story starts)
Off our protagonist goes on a journey, overcoming challenges
And our story ends, perhaps with treasure, or a feast, or a grand celebration!
On our first story-structure outing we had such fun — and learned so much — that a repeat performance was in the cards from the first few minutes!
As before, 2G dived into their storytelling, consulted their homework notes, shared ideas with classmates, added (or subtracted) from their original stories and generally — hee hee hee — discussed story structure.
“Who’s your character?”
“What happened?!? Wow.”
“Yeah, my guy/gal had a big fight too!”
This time, instead of at least 4 panes, students were required to produce at least 6 panes!
During our Story Structure #1 outing, we noticed students who had completed their stories enjoyed helping others “finish up.”
This afternoon, when it came time to finishing up (after P.E.), the Order of the Day was, “No one can begin Free Time / Imaginative Play until everyone has finished all 6 story panes."
Not only did 2G students enjoy helping one another finish up, but they thoroughly enjoyed learning about the stories their classmates were telling.
Lots and lots of story-structure talk!
In 2G we… don’t permit acres of white space in drawings. (Boring!) Students are asked to develop background or, failing that, to shade the background.
“I can’t think of anything to put in the background.”
“Well, where does your story take place?”
“Hun?”
“What’s the setting?”
“Oh, in a forest full of hungry beasts and demons.”
“So, perhaps, put some trees in the background? Maybe a beast or two peering out from behind the trees, ready to pounce?”
“Oh, yeah…”
Another remarkable day of story structure and 2G story telling!
Bravo!
COUNT THE FISH TAILS!
We count… 4 fish tails!
And… no juvenile white tern — a.k.a. Ibuki — in sight!