ANNA MUSSER
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Lesson Plan Outline & Resources

Creating a Dystopia

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This class will explore the genre of dystopias. During this course students will:
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  • Evaluate different types of dystopias
  • Learn story telling structure
  • Explore psychological models that inform  character development
  •  Explore political, sociological and technological models that inform the development of a setting  
  • Select and research an issue that concerns them
  • Create a dystopian graphic novel/short story using the software ​Pixton. 
Lesson Plan
Resources

Anatomy of the Class

Lesson 1:
​What is a Story?
What is a Dystopia?

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The Basics:
  • Collaboratively identify the basic aspects of a story (i.e. setting, charters, plot...)
  • Discuss what a genre is 
  • Define dystopia
  • Explore an example(s) of dystopia
  • Teacher will guide students to identify certain elements of a story in example(s) of a dystopia
Lesson 2:
Problems
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Problems:
  • Revisit the elements of a setting
  • Students start making a list of things they think are wrong with the world
  • Have students brain storm different ways the world/things gets worse
  • Explore the concepts of exaggeration and  extrapolation
  • Play improv game: Problems
    • ​Get in a circle. Teacher states a simple problem, every subsequent student has to make that problem a little bit worse. 
  • Have students take one item on there list and make that thing just a little bit worse
  • As a class, discuss what the logical consequences of each worsened state would be 
Lesson 3:
Different Types of Dystopias
Introduction to Pixton
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Different Types of Dystopias & Pixton
  • Introduce different themes of dystopias
    • ​Technology 
    • Political
    • Historical
    • Environmental
    • ​Biological
  • 4 Types of Dystopias
    • autocratic totalitarianism 
    • democratic totalitarianism
    •  bureaucratic oppression
    • reality replacement 
  • Play the game: Name That Dystopia
    • ​Select a student and describe the dystopian environment they now live in.
    • Only way student can be saved is if other students name the type of dystopia the student is trapped in 
  • Have students review their list of issues that matter to them, give them a chance to add to their list 
  • Have students open up Pixton and watch getting started tutorial 
Lesson Four:
The Power to Control
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The Power to Control
  • Start class by telling students that from this point on there are a new set of rules for the class and your setting up cameras all over the classroom to make sure the students comply. Then list ridiculous rules and consequences  
  • ​Explore different ways a society can control you
    • Violence
    • Cast/Class System 
    • ​Suppression of Speech
    • Isolation from Others
    • Genetic Modifications 
    • Surveillance
    • Denial of Resources 
    • ​Peer Pressure 
    • Bureaucracy  
    • Creating Complacency
    • Propaganda 
  • Students pick topic for their dystopia
  • Students start creating a setting image on Pixton​
Lesson 5:
The Psychology of the Rebel

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The Psychology of the Rebel 
  • Define what a motivation is 
  • Explore different motivations 
    • Status
    • Love 
    • Freedom
    • Significance 
    •  Power
    • Revenge
    • Resources
  • Explore how beliefs form motivation​ 
  • Explore how emotions and beliefs  are influenced by motivation 
  • Define Anti Hero
  • Students explore sprites on Pixton
Lesson 6:
Cast of Characters
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Cast of Characters 
Lesson Seven:
The Showdown 
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The Showdown
Teachers Notes:
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Teachers Notes:
  • ​Potential Classroom Demographic
    • High School
    • Community College
      • ​Selection of dystonian examples depends on age group ​
  • ​Course can be expanded over months or condensed  into a month long class​

Resources

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