Module 1

Journal Prompt #1

This prompt begins the “journey” students will make while considering what makes a heroin their minds, in their culture, and in other cultures. At this point, students have been writing reflectively for most of the year and know what the expectations are in order to receive full points for this endeavor. There will be 6 prompts to write on, many of them multiple questions. Students know to address each question, yet synthesize their response to craft a reflective piece of writing.

I usually put the prompt up on the SmartBoard to conserve paper. I have a PowerPoint I use of all 6 prompts ready to go. You can easily cut and paste these onto a PowerPoint. Give students about 15 minutes to draft a response. This is not the final writing they will turn in for a grade, but it is a start. Remind students that they will craft these journal prompt exercises into a final piece of writing to be submitted at the end of this unit. Give them 5 minutes to share their writing with their neighbor(s).

Journal Prompt #1: Look around you. Every student in this classroom arrived at school today to engage in higher learning. Would you consider that a heroic act? What about getting on a plane, train, or subway? Going to the local supermarket? In your opinion, what needs to be in place for an act to be considered heroic and the person performing it a hero? Do you think those around you would share your opinion? Be ready to consult with your neighbor about what makes a hero.

Joseph Campbell and The Hero’s Journey Organizer

Joseph Campbell is the renown, internationally acclaimed expert on mythology, hero and culture. Students are familiar with Cornell Notes and should use them while reading the excerpt from A Hero with A Thousand Faces, reviewing The Hero’s Journey PowerPoint and watching the What Makes a Hero video. Then, using the strategy of pair-share or elbow neighbors, have students complete the Hero’s Journey Organizer. They are to turn in for credit. The organizer is on the next page.

Cornell Notes: Students have been instructed to use Cornell Notes to practice and hone note-taking skills. There are several websites that allow copying these templates for classroom use. By this point in the year, my students are generating their own questions from the notes they deem pertinent, coming up with questions not answered in the current materials, and seeking out more information. If you are not familiar with how to facilitate guiding students through the process of this strategy, please consult social studies and science teachers as more than likely they are also using this strategy. If you have an AVID coordinator on your site, that would be another resource.

Exit Ticket 3 – 2 – 1

Write three things you learned about the hero’s journey.

Write two examples from a book you have read or a movie you have seen that illustrate a part of the journey.

Write one question you would like to ask a “hero.”