Grade 7

Short Story Writing UNIt

STEP 1: Print off the character sheets from Peril in Pinebrook. Place students in groups of 4 and ensure each student within their groups has a different character. If groups are larger, it's ok if some characters are duplicated. 

STEP 2: D&D Character Visual

STEP 3: Head-to-Toe Character Description

STEP 4: Character Backstory DRAFT

STEP 5: Character Backstory ASSIGNMENT

STEP 6: Character Introductions

Ensure students have dice (or use Google's dice).

Print copies of the individual encounters in the Peril in Pinebrook adventure. Students can take turns as the Dungeon Master (DM for short. They're like a referee.) for each encounter. The game is scripted for the DMs to reduce confusion and anxiety.

• Alternatively, YOU can be the DM, but this will mean tracking multiple copies of any monsters you encounter. The whiteboard is good for this. 

  • Have groups decide their order or play (put any monsters you play as in the middle of their turns).

  • Go from group to group.

  • Have groups roll their d20 and their damage dice (if necessary) altogether and before you address the group. They need to be ready to go IMMEDIATELY for the sake of time. Use a timer if necessary.

After every encounter, students can work with their group but they need to complete their own version of the D&D Paragraph Writing graphic organizer. A new copy of the document for EACH encounter.

Once the game is complete, students will take the content from all their D&D Paragraph Writing documents and collate it into a single document. 

There is lots of editing to be done at this point. 

You likely have your own story writing checklists, graphic organizers, etc. Students are simply playing D&D to equip them with protagonists, antagonists, conflict, and elements across the plot arc.