The 9Bs recently finished up their short story unit and voted Vanson Hamel's The Call short story as their favorite. I think it might have been the mixture of mystery and suspense in the story that they enjoyed most. Vanson's group (Jaxon, Shaelyn, Michael, & Branden) also did a fantastic job of recreating the story in video format and left their classmates wanting more!
The Call, to me, seemed very similar to an urban legend I've heard many times over the years. You know, the one that involves a babysitter home alone with young children who keeps receiving strange phone calls and then the call gets traced and they're coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE! dun-dun-dun! Okay, you get it, and I'm also assuming that you've heard it before too. Right? Or the one with the man on the loose with the hook hand who almost kills the young couple who are hanging out on lover's lane. Those myth-type stories are the most popular urban legends being told these days and new variations of such stories are still being spoken of around the campfire or late at night at sleepovers. Spooky.
The grades 9s' task was to create their own urban legend, explain its origin (what year/era did it come from), and create two other variations of it as well. Not only that, but they have to research their stories to see if it would even be plausible. As urban legends go, some have a bit of credibility to them which make them even more disturbing. The stories they have started to create are phenomenal and I'm excited to see and hear what they come up with. I have a plan as to what to do with their stories next, but you'll have to stay tuned.
The students are allowed to be in partners, but there's a twist...they can't sit or work side-by-side. The partners must create their stories and presentations via Google and discuss their terms of action on Google Hangout. This way, students have to read what their partners are doing, edit each other's work, pay attention to the assignment at hand, and really take the time to communicate with their partner to ensure understanding. It's interesting to see some struggle at first but then get a sense of how they can communicate with their partner clearly and effectively as they work their way through their assignment. It's day two and already partners have divided up the work via Google Hangout, edited their presentations, and collaborated without even speaking face-to-face. How awesome is that?! I think it's fantastic.
What a clever idea! Can't wait to see the finished product!
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