"Epic Voices: Journey Through Justice"

High School Grade Project 4 weeks

"Epic Voices: Journey Through Justice"

Jami Butler

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Purpose

The purpose of this project is to engage high school students in a dynamic exploration of the hero's journey framework, using it as a lens to address and narrate current social issues. Through research, community interaction, and storytelling, students will develop a deeper understanding of societal complexities and their own narrative voices. By creating multimedia products such as podcasts, videos, or ebooks, along with digital hero posters, they will connect their personal stories to broader social themes, fostering critical thinking and creative expression. This project aims to cultivate empathy, analytical skills, and real-world communication abilities, enabling students to contribute meaningfully to discussions on social justice.

Learning goals

Students will critically analyze the hero's journey framework in literature, identifying key stages and their significance in character and narrative development. They will investigate current social issues through research and community engagement, gaining a nuanced understanding of these topics. Students will craft and refine narratives that integrate storytelling techniques, focusing on character development and thematic connections to social issues. They will develop multimedia storytelling skills by producing either a podcast, video, or ebook, effectively narrating their hero's journey and its relevance to real-world social challenges. Through reflection and critique, students will enhance their ability to connect personal growth with academic learning.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.5: Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.7: Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums to present a particular topic or idea.

Products

Students will choose to produce a podcast, video, or ebook mini-series, narrating their hero's journey stories that address social issues. They will also create digital hero posters with QR codes linking to their selected media format. Additionally, students will compile a comprehensive portfolio containing reflective journals, narrative drafts, and final scripts. The project will culminate in a multimedia website showcasing their chosen media, digital posters, and reflections, providing an engaging platform for sharing their work with a broader audience.

Launch

Begin the project with an immersive 'Social Justice Quest' scavenger hunt, where students explore interactive stations representing various social issues. Each station will feature engaging activities that prompt students to gather ideas and inspiration for their hero's journey narratives. This dynamic launch will ignite curiosity and provide a strong foundation for integrating storytelling with social justice themes throughout the project. Students will then choose their preferred medium—podcast, video, or ebook—to tell their story, allowing for diverse expression and creativity.

Exhibition

Students will host a digital showcase where their podcast episodes, videos, and ebooks are displayed on a multimedia website. This platform will be shared with the school community and local partners, allowing for an interactive experience as attendees explore the narratives and social issues addressed. Additionally, students will present their work in a live virtual event, where they can discuss their creative process, insights gained, and the impact of their stories, encouraging dialogue and feedback from the audience.

Plan

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Launch the project with the 'Social Justice Quest' scavenger hunt. Students explore interactive stations, each focusing on a different social issue, and document their insights and inspirations.	Introduce the hero's journey framework through an engaging class discussion. Analyze classic and contemporary texts, focusing on the stages and their significance in character and narrative development.	Conduct a research workshop where students explore various social issues. They use digital tools to gather data and perspectives, beginning an outline for a research presentation that connects findings to potential narrative themes.	Begin storytelling and narrative writing workshops. Students brainstorm potential hero's journey narratives and draft initial story ideas, emphasizing character development, plot structure, and thematic connections to social issues.	Facilitate a reflection circle where students discuss their initial narrative ideas and insights gained from the 'Social Justice Quest.' Encourage students to document their reflections in journals, focusing on challenges faced and inspirations gathered.
Deliverables	1. Completion of a reflective journal entry documenting insights from the 'Social Justice Quest' and initial narrative ideas. 2. An outline for the research presentation connecting social issues to narrative themes.
Preparation	1. Set up interactive stations for the 'Social Justice Quest,' ensuring each station has engaging materials and prompts related to different social issues. 2. Gather and prepare a selection of classic and contemporary texts that exemplify the hero's journey for class analysis. 3. Develop a digital resource list for the research workshop, including databases and websites for exploring social issues. 4. Prepare materials for the storytelling and narrative writing workshops, including graphic organizers and brainstorming templates. 5. Organize the reflection circle setup and prepare guiding questions to facilitate meaningful student discussions.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Facilitate a deeper analysis session of the hero's journey framework using a selected text. Students identify each stage, discuss parallels with their narrative ideas, and explore character development.	Invite a local hero to speak to the class about their journey overcoming a social justice issue. Students take notes on key insights for inspiration in their narratives.	Conduct a workshop on scriptwriting for podcasts, focusing on structuring episodes, incorporating sound effects, and engaging storytelling. Students begin drafting their scripts.	Organize peer feedback groups where students share their narrative drafts, providing and receiving constructive feedback on clarity, engagement, and connection to social issues.	Lead a reflection circle where students discuss their narrative progress, challenges faced, and connections to social issues. Encourage detailed journal entries capturing reflections.
Deliverables	1. Detailed analysis of the hero's journey stages from the selected text, identifying parallels to students' narratives. 2. Draft of the podcast script, incorporating insights from the guest speaker and peer feedback.
Preparation	1. Select a text that exemplifies the hero's journey for in-depth analysis, and prepare guiding questions. 2. Coordinate the guest speaker session, ensuring alignment with the project's themes. 3. Develop materials for the podcast scriptwriting workshop, including templates and examples of effective scripts. 4. Organize peer feedback groups, providing guidelines for constructive criticism. 5. Prepare reflection circle questions to guide discussions and ensure a supportive environment.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Host a multimedia workshop where students learn audio recording and editing skills. Students will apply these skills to refine their podcast drafts or work on video or ebook formats, depending on their chosen medium.	Organize a collaborative session where students share updates on their narratives and community engagement experiences, focusing on connections between their stories and social issues.	Facilitate a peer review session for students' drafts (podcast script, video storyboard, or ebook outline), focusing on clarity, engagement, and integration of social issues. Students provide feedback and refine their work.	Invite a local podcaster for a session on storytelling techniques and recording tips. Students can ask questions and gain insights to enhance their projects.	Lead a reflection circle where students discuss their development as storytellers and their deeper understanding of social issues. Encourage detailed journal entries capturing these reflections.
Deliverables	1. Revised draft of the chosen narrative medium (podcast script, video storyboard, or ebook outline) incorporating peer and expert feedback. 2. Initial audio or visual recordings or ebook drafts demonstrating the application of multimedia skills.
Preparation	1. Prepare and provide access to audio and visual editing software and equipment needed for the multimedia workshop. 2. Coordinate the collaborative session, preparing guiding questions to facilitate meaningful discussions. 3. Organize the peer review session with guidelines and criteria for constructive feedback on diverse narrative formats. 4. Arrange the guest session with the local podcaster, ensuring alignment with project goals and student needs. 5. Prepare reflection circle prompts to guide students in deep self-reflection and meaningful journal entries.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Conduct final edits and refinements on podcast episodes, videos, or ebooks. Students will focus on ensuring narrative elements and technical quality are optimal. They will work in pairs to conduct final checks and make necessary adjustments.	Design and develop digital hero posters that visually represent each student's hero's journey narrative. Include QR codes linking to their respective podcasts, videos, or ebooks.	Organize a peer review session where students present their digital hero posters and final media products. Peers will provide feedback on visual impact, narrative alignment, and technical execution.	Facilitate a mock exhibition where students practice presenting their digital hero posters and media products. Peers give feedback on presentation skills, clarity, and engagement.	Host the final reflection circle where students share their overall project experiences, focusing on personal growth, insights on social issues, and storytelling improvements. Encourage comprehensive journal entries capturing their reflections.
Deliverables	1. Finalized podcast episodes, videos, or ebooks ready for publication. 2. Completed digital hero posters with QR codes linking to media projects, prepared for the exhibition. 3. Reflective journal entries documenting final reflections on the project, personal growth, and insights gained.
Preparation	1. Ensure all students have access to necessary software and tools for finalizing their media products and creating digital posters. 2. Prepare a checklist for students to use during the final quality checks of their podcasts, videos, or ebooks. 3. Set up a digital platform to host students' podcasts, videos, ebooks, and digital posters for the final exhibition. 4. Organize the mock exhibition setup, providing guidelines for effective presentation and peer feedback. 5. Prepare guiding questions for the final reflection circle to facilitate meaningful discussions and comprehensive journal entries.