Students Summarize a Disney Short Using Somebody Wanted but So Then Strategy and Identify the Theme.

Lesson Plan:

Objective: Students will be able to summarize a Disney short using the Somebody Wanted But So Then strategy and identify the theme of the story.

Materials:

• Disney short film (e.g. "Paperman" or "Feast")
• Smekens chart (Somebody Wanted But So Then)
• Chart paper or whiteboard
• Markers or whiteboard markers

Procedure:

1. Introduction (5 minutes):

• Begin the lesson by asking students if they have ever watched a Disney short film. Discuss briefly what they remember about the story and characters.
• Explain that today, they will be watching a Disney short film and learning a strategy to summarize the story.

1. Watch the Disney short film (10 minutes):

• Show the chosen Disney short film to the class. Encourage students to pay attention to the characters, their wants, and the events that unfold.

1. Introduce the Somebody Wanted But So Then strategy (5 minutes):

• Display the Smekens chart (Somebody Wanted But So Then) on the chart paper or whiteboard.
• Explain that this strategy helps us summarize a story by focusing on the main character's wants and the events that happen as a result.
• Go through each section of the chart, explaining what it means:
• Somebody: The main character
• Wanted: What the main character wanted or desired
• But: The conflict or obstacle that prevented the main character from getting what they wanted
• So: The action or decision the main character took to overcome the conflict
• Then: The resolution or outcome of the story

1. Model the strategy using the Disney short film (10 minutes):

• Choose a student to help you fill out the Smekens chart on the chart paper or whiteboard.
• Ask the student to identify the main character and what they wanted in the Disney short film.
• Fill out the chart together, discussing the conflict, action, and resolution of the story.

1. Guided practice (10 minutes):

• Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students.
• Distribute copies of the Smekens chart to each group.
• In their groups, students will work together to fill out the chart for the Disney short film they watched.
• Circulate around the room, providing support and guidance as needed.

1. Share and discuss summaries (10 minutes):

• Invite each group to share their summaries using the Somebody Wanted But So Then strategy.
• Write the summaries on the chart paper or whiteboard, highlighting the main character's wants and the events of the story.
• Discuss the similarities and differences between the summaries, focusing on the main character's journey and the resolution of the story.

1. Identify the theme (5 minutes):

• Explain that the theme of a story is the underlying message or lesson that the author wants to convey.
• Ask students to think about the Disney short film they watched and discuss in their groups what they believe the theme of the story is.
• Call on a few groups to share their ideas, and write them on the chart paper or whiteboard.
• Discuss the different themes and encourage students to support their ideas with evidence from the story.

1. Conclusion (5 minutes):

• Summarize the lesson by reviewing the Somebody Wanted But So Then strategy and the importance of identifying the theme in a story.
• Thank the students for their participation and engagement in the lesson.

Extension activity:

• Have students choose another Disney short film to watch individually or in small groups.
• Using the Somebody Wanted But So Then strategy, have them summarize the story and identify the theme.
• Students can present their summaries and themes to the class or create a visual representation of their findings.