In the Stories of Direction Project, students explored the essential question, “How do journeys transform us?”
In order to explore this, students wrote “flash narratives” about community members who had relocated and experienced culture shock. They also read about sea exploration and studied the literary metaphor of the boat. They then built and enhanced scale model boats to symbolize the journeys of their community members as they adapted to new cultures. The project closed with an exhibition that celebrated the stories of the displaced community members.
Academic Skills & Content
- Interview a community member
- Write a concise narrative rich in figurative language
- Analyze works of fiction and nonfiction (students read excerpts from Life of Pi, The Perfect Storm, and “The Open Boat”)
- Use ratios to convert dimensions
- Employ imagery and figurative language in a visual design
Final Products
- 200 word “flash narratives” about displaced community members
- Visually enhanced ⅛ scale poster board boats
- ¼ scale wood and fiberglass boat
- Transformed classroom celebrating displaced community members
Suggested Duration: 7 weeks
This project was created with the generous support of the Avalon Foundation.
