Your Mom Goes to Cornish!

How does what I’ve noticed impact what I’m thinking/how I’m thinking about writing?

Both of the examples that I used in the comparison have a really clear order, and both include objectives, guiding questions, and a list of materials necessary for the lesson to go forward. These are definitely elements that I will want to use in my lesson plan—and I’m now thinking that I could use footnotes that would connect to the appendix, explaining reasons for my objectives, etc. and citing sources backing up that information.

I’m curious to see what it would look like if I created a booklet (or packet, if you will) out of three components:

1) Introduction - this will include a mission statement for “Creative Expressions” as well as basic background information on the adolescent brain.

2) Lesson plan - this will simply be the lesson plan, ordered by weeks and subject, covering a certain period of time that I deem appropriate. Anything that requires additional explanation will be footnoted, and lead to the…

3) Expository appendix - this will provide additional justification and illumination on the subjects I suggest, games that will be played, and any other blather that requires attention in relation to the lesson plan.

Lesson Plan Example

With technology booming, middle schools are in need of community-building activities and classes now more than ever. Kids are disconnected from their teachers, parents, and peers like never before, and it seems as if they’ve unlearned how to communicate in the flesh. Therefore, I propose a new course entitled “Creative Expressions,” an arts-elective intended to open the lines of communication in the relationships of every teen’s life through the process of drama therapy.

This project is aimed at teachers or administrators of a middle school who are seeking a more integrated, positive community by way of educating their students through artistic expression. They believe that each student who attends their school is special and deserves time and individual attention. The project will take the form of a lesson plan and expository appendix that will be instructional and universal, so it could ostensibly be distributed to other schools and be informative enough to allow someone who knows little to nothing about drama therapy be able to understand and execute the class.

The lesson plan will dictate weeks and hours within class time, as participants will enjoy/take to certain exercises more than others and some games may last the entire hour or only five minutes. Drama therapy is fluid and so the instructor and lesson plan must follow suit.

The appendix is intended to explain why these exercises were chosen, give information on the adolescent brain, and justify why this is a necessary course for middle school students. It will also include quotes from interviews and other vital background information on the course itself and the age group with which it deals.

My goals for “Creative Expressions” are to express myself eruditely, focus on the present moment of the writing process, condense information while keeping it clear and easy to follow, and to have fun.

Lesson Plan Example

Lesson Plan Example