Now that the new year has begun, it might be fun to incorporate a lesson plan that allows students to be creative. As many of you know, I am a Disney enthusiast and that includes the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Have you had a chance to watch the animated series What If…? I truly enjoyed it, and true to my ever-working brain, I watched the series while thinking about how I could use the same concept in the classroom.
The idea of considering what might have happened if there was a change in history or an event is not new. There are several fiction novels out there that take those liberties of considering what if… Amazon Prime had a tv series The Man in the Castle that imagined what the world would be like if Germany and Japan were victorious over WWII. So, we can imagine that a lesson in imagining the what if can be done in a history or even science class.
What excites me about this type of lesson with students in a history or science class is that it lets them be creative in classes that tend to be more literal. I would incorporate, as part of the lesson, that students would need to do research on the topic to ensure that they understand what actually transpired in order to make logical, albeit fictional, changes. In the end, the final product or project is not just a creative presentation but also a chance for students to think critically about what is significant about what has happened and how it effects today and the future.
I get excited imagining the possibilities of opening up the literary classroom for students to imagine what if an event or character was different than originally written. For example, in the Marvel What If…?, there is a series that imagines what would have happened if Agent Peggy Carter became Captain America instead of Steve Rogers. In this case, one specific change in an event changes the plot of the story ,AND the gender of the protagonist.
Some simple guidelines for a What if…? activity could include:
• Identify the change in event or character
• Imagine the effect it would have to the plot or history
• Write a new conclusion or result
I am curious to hear if you have done anything like this with your students. More importantly, share with your InspirED community the ways you could see this play out in the various content areas.
See You Real Soon,
Erin
HOW DO I KNOW IF THE HAPPY TEACHER CONFERENCE IS FOR ME?
- I love working with students and sharing a passion for learning
- I’ve lost a little bit of love for teaching
- I am looking to reboot or re-energize my career
- I could use a reminder about finding balance with my personal and professional life
- I want to network with other educators to find a community of support