SUMMARY
Students consider what chapter 21 should be (the book has 20 chapters and ends on a cliff hanger). Independently or in groups, they write and illustrate chapter 21, thereby finishing the London story the way they think it should end.
PREREQUISITES
Reading the London book (in full) is required.
SUBJECTS
- English (writing)
- IT (only if typing)
- Art (illustrations)
AGE
- 5-8 with extensive parental or teacher help
- 9-14 group ideas/illustrations and independent writing
STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL IF THEY
- generate viable ideas, given the outcomes in chapter 20
- write chapter 21, according to teacher-outlined success criteria
- illustrate chapter 21
- consider and record (verbal/written) aspirations for their own life
- share their ideas with Exit Erik (if desired/appropriate)
- share their chapter 21 with the teacher and/or the class
RESOURCES NEEDED
- London book
- guidance sheet (see ACTIVITIES below)
- pen/pencil and paper or a computer for typing
- assessment criteria (teacher provided) to guide their writing
LOGISTICS
Students should be encouraged to share ideas in groups to help their ideas flourish. They should then write independently for a maximum of 10 minutes – just the basic outline. Next, they should pair up to bounce their ideas off a partner and develop them further. Finally, they should write the first draft independently, being reminded that no writer ever writes a good first draft.
That draft should go home with them, where they give it more thought and complete draft two, which they submit to you.
DIFFERENTIATION
Encourage lower ability students to keep the chapter short and focus instead on the ideas and basic sentence structure and punctuation. Encourage more able students to be creative with their language and develop a chapter that would seamlessly fit in with the rest of the book.
ACTIVITIES
1. What would you do now if you were in Exit Erik’s shoes? If you were going to continue this story by writing Chapter 21, what would happen next to Exit Erik? What would he choose to do? Get together with a friend and write Chapter 21. Use your art skills to illustrate this final chapter of the London book.
2. What do you think Exit Erik should do while he’s alive? His life could end at any minute and he knows this. What do you think he should see and do while he’s still alive? Where do you think he should go? To help you decide this, you should think about your own life. What do you want to see and do during your life? Make a list of everything you want to accomplish with your life while you have it. Dream big. Don’t let reality stand in your way.
3. If you’d like, you can email your ideas to Krista and Exit Erik using the contact form. If Exit Erik chooses to use your idea(s) and attempts to do these things with his own life – and the story ends up in a book about that adventure, we’ll thank you in the book and send you a signed copy to show your friends and family.
4. Ask your teacher or parents/carers/guardian to sign up to receive an email when the next Exit Erik book is released.