"Beowulf & Beyond: Crafting Our Narratives"

12th Grade

Project
3 weeks

"Beowulf & Beyond: Crafting Our Narratives"

Jo Ellen Aspinwall

Purpose

This learning experience immerses students in the art of storytelling as a means to explore and articulate their identities. By examining Beowulf alongside modern narratives, students will draw parallels between epic and personal journeys, fostering a deeper understanding of identity and legacy. Through interactive workshops, community engagement, and creative expression, students will craft and share their own narratives, honing their skills in narrative structure and descriptive language. This project not only enhances literary analysis but also cultivates personal reflection and expression, culminating in a dynamic showcase of student work.

Learning goals

Students will explore narrative and reflective writing to express their voice and identity, drawing connections between historical and contemporary storytelling. They will analyze the impact of word choice and tone, practice code-switching, and adhere to formal writing conventions. Through engaging with Beowulf and modern narratives, students will develop their own stories, reflecting on personal journeys and identity. Collaborative workshops with a local author will enhance narrative techniques, while community walks will inspire descriptive language and narrative structure. The project culminates in a public exhibit, allowing students to present their narratives and receive feedback.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.4: Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1: Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Products

Students will create a personal narrative essay that explores their own identity and journey, drawing connections to themes from Beowulf. They will also produce a visual exhibit that showcases their narrative alongside images and stories captured during the community walk. Additionally, students will participate in a storytelling circle, sharing their narratives and receiving feedback from peers and community partners. Finally, they will compile these narratives and reflections into a digital anthology, celebrating the diverse voices and expressions within the class.

Launch

Begin with a 'Narrative Expedition' where students explore their community, capturing stories and images that reflect themes of identity and belonging. This immersive experience will serve as inspiration for their narrative writing projects. Following the expedition, host a 'Storytelling Circle' with a local author, where students share personal anecdotes and draw connections to Beowulf's themes of legacy and identity. This launch activity sets the stage for students to embark on their own narrative journeys, fostering a deeper understanding of storytelling's role in self-expression.

Exhibition

Students will curate a "Narratives of Identity" exhibition, showcasing their written narratives alongside multimedia elements such as photographs and audio recordings collected during the 'Narrative Expedition.' The exhibition will feature a gallery walk where peers, teachers, and community members, including the local author, provide feedback and engage in discussions about the themes of identity and legacy. Students will present their personal narratives, connecting their stories to the heroic themes from Beowulf, and participate in a storytelling panel where they share insights gained from the project.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Project Launch Seminar - Facilitate a 'Beowulf and Beyond' interactive seminar with a guest speaker who discusses the evolution of storytelling from Beowulf to modern narratives, encouraging students to brainstorm contemporary stories that echo the epic's themes (30 min) Narrative Expedition Preparation - Introduce the 'Narrative Expedition' activity and guide students in planning their community walk, focusing on capturing stories and images that resonate with identity and belonging (30 min)	Narrative Expedition - Conduct the community walk where students capture stories and images that reflect themes of identity and belonging, to be used as foundational elements for their narrative writing projects (60 min)	Storytelling Circle Introduction - Host a 'Storytelling Circle' with a local author, where students are introduced to sharing personal anecdotes and drawing connections to Beowulf's themes of legacy and identity (20 min) Story Sharing and Reflection - Students share personal stories with peers and the local author, receiving feedback and drawing parallels to the themes discussed (40 min)	Analyzing Beowulf - Guide students in reading selected excerpts from Beowulf, focusing on narrative structure, descriptive language, and themes of heroism, identity, and legacy (30 min) Reflective Writing Exercise - Students write a reflective piece connecting their personal narratives to the themes identified in Beowulf, emphasizing narrative structure and descriptive language (30 min)	Code Switching Workshop - Conduct a workshop on code switching, exploring the use of formal and informal language in storytelling and its impact on tone and meaning (30 min) Narrative Structure Analysis - Analyze the narrative structure of Beowulf and modern narratives, identifying elements that will inform students' own storytelling projects (30 min)
Deliverables	1. A detailed outline for a personal narrative that incorporates themes of identity and belonging, developed from the Narrative Expedition and Storytelling Circle discussions.
Preparation	1. Coordinate with a local author to facilitate the Storytelling Circle. 2. Arrange a guest speaker for the Beowulf and Beyond seminar. 3. Organize materials for the Narrative Expedition, including cameras or smartphones, notebooks, and writing utensils. 4. Prepare workshop materials on narrative structure and descriptive language exercises. 5. Ensure access to excerpts from Beowulf and select modern narrative essays for seminar discussion.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Word Meaning and Tone Exploration - Engage students in an interactive activity to identify and discuss the impact of specific word choices and tone in Beowulf and modern narratives, focusing on how these elements convey themes of identity and legacy (30 min) Descriptive Language Workshop - Facilitate a workshop where students experiment with descriptive language to enhance their narratives, using sensory details and vivid imagery inspired by their community walk findings (30 min)	Narrative Structure Deep Dive - Guide students through a comparison of narrative structures found in Beowulf and modern essays, identifying key elements that will inform their personal narratives (30 min) Personal Narrative Drafting - Students begin drafting their personal narratives, integrating descriptive language and narrative structure insights, and focusing on their unique voice and identity (30 min)	Peer Review Session - Organize a peer review session where students exchange drafts and provide constructive feedback on narrative structure, language use, and thematic connections to personal and heroic journeys (40 min) Reflective Journaling - Students reflect on the feedback received and set goals for revisions, considering how their narrative connects to the themes of identity and belonging (20 min)	Formal Writing Rules Workshop - Conduct a workshop focusing on observing formal writing rules, including grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization, within narrative writing (30 min) Revising for Clarity and Precision - Students revise their narratives, applying formal writing rules and peer feedback to enhance clarity, precision, and impact of their storytelling (30 min)	Code Switching in Narratives - Explore the concept of code switching through mini-presentations and discussions on how language choice affects narrative authenticity and audience connection (30 min) Final Narrative Drafting - Students work on finalizing their narrative drafts, incorporating code switching where appropriate, and ensuring their stories reflect their identity and personal journeys (30 min)
Deliverables	1. Drafted Personal Narrative Essay: Students will submit a draft of their personal narrative essay, highlighting themes of identity and belonging. 2. Visual Exhibit Plan: Students will create a preliminary plan for the visual exhibit, selecting images and stories from the community walk that complement their narrative essays.
Preparation	1. Coordinate with the local author to schedule and plan the narrative techniques workshop. 2. Prepare a rubric for peer review sessions, focusing on narrative structure, descriptive language, and formal writing rules. 3. Gather materials for the visual exhibit, such as poster boards, digital tools for multimedia presentations, and art supplies for image display. 4. Develop guidelines and templates to assist students in drafting and revising their narratives, ensuring they incorporate themes from Beowulf and their community walk.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Final Narrative Draft Workshop - Students collaborate in peer review groups to refine their narrative essays, focusing on narrative structure and descriptive language (30 min) Word Choice and Tone Revision - Guide students in revising their drafts to enhance word choice and tone, ensuring alignment with their intended message and audience (30 min)	Digital Storytelling Session - Introduce digital storytelling tools and guide students in creating multimedia elements to complement their narratives, such as audio recordings or visual presentations (30 min) Multimedia Integration - Students integrate multimedia elements into their narratives, ensuring coherence and enhancing the storytelling experience (30 min)	Exhibition Preparation - Students curate their narrative and multimedia projects for the 'Narratives of Identity' exhibition, focusing on presentation and storytelling impact (30 min) Gallery Walk Setup - Students set up their exhibits, ensuring their narratives and multimedia components are effectively displayed for audience engagement (30 min)	Gallery Walk and Feedback - Facilitate a gallery walk where students present their narratives to peers and community members, receiving constructive feedback and engaging in discussions on identity and legacy (45 min) Reflection and Refinement - Students reflect on the feedback received, making final refinements to their narratives and exhibits (15 min)	Public Exhibition Event - Conduct the 'Narratives of Identity' public exhibition where students present their final projects to a wider audience, including community partners and guest speakers, celebrating their storytelling achievements (40 min) Project Reflection Circle - Host a reflection circle where students share insights gained from the project and discuss the impact of storytelling on understanding their identities (20 min)
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Completed Personal Narrative Essay 2. Deliverable 2: Multimedia Exhibit for 'Narratives of Identity' 3. Deliverable 3: Reflection on Feedback from Gallery Walk
Preparation	1. Prep Task 1: Secure venue for the 'Narratives of Identity' exhibition and arrange necessary equipment for displaying multimedia elements. 2. Prep Task 2: Coordinate with community partners and local author for participation in the gallery walk and storytelling panel. 3. Prep Task 3: Provide materials for students to finalize essays, such as computers for editing and printing, as well as art supplies for multimedia exhibits. 4. Prep Task 4: Develop guidelines and criteria for peer feedback during the gallery walk.