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Grades 9-12

≅ 110 minutes

Narrative Writing Lesson: Severe Weather

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Primary Standards

Supporting Standards

Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.3 & W.11-12.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3

Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

HS-ESS3-1. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.

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Visit now for more FREE Resources!

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www.subjecttoclimate.org

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Essential Questions

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How has an increase in severe weather affected human activity?

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What narrative elements most effectively convey personal experiences?

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Learning Outcomes

I can

Discuss how storms and severe weather affect human activity.

I can

Evaluate a speaker’s point of view.

I can

Write a narrative about a personal experience with storms or severe weather.

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Agenda

Inquire

Investigate

Inspire

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≅ 20 minutes

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Watch the video and answer these questions:

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  • What facts or data stood out to you?

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  • What questions do you have?

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  • How did you feel after watching the video?

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Look at the two pictures below. In each picture a storm has just passed.

  • Describe the pictures.
  • Brainstorm ways that humans and animals living in these areas would be affected by the flooding.

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≅ 30 minutes

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  • What are the important details of the story?
  • How does the storyteller engage the audience?

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Listen to the podcast Climate Change and Environmental Racism.

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  • What are the important details of the stories?
  • How do the storytellers engage the audience?

Listen to it!

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  • How did you feel after watching the video and listening to the podcast?

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  • Which parts of the stories were most compelling to you? Why?

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  • Identify some narrative techniques used by the storytellers. For example, did they use suspense? Sensory details? Dialogue? Personal reflection?

Discuss

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Create a Venn diagram with similarities and differences

between the video you watched and the podcast.

Create

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≅ 60 minutes

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Write it!

It’s your turn to write your own storm narrative.

Begin your narrative with an engaging description of the problem you faced.

Describe the event. Where were you? Who was with you? What you were feeling? Include sensory details to create a vivid picture.

Include at least one element of dialogue. Add narrative techniques like pacing, mystery, suspense, resolution or reflection

Write a conclusion that states how the event ended, what you learned and what you want others to know.

Think of a time when you experienced severe weather.

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Checklist

First paragraph engages the reader by setting out the problem faced (the severe weather).

Details create a vivid picture of the event.

Narrative includes at least one element of dialogue.

Narrative incorporates a variety of techniques that build on one another to create a coherent whole, such as pacing, mystery, suspense, resolution, or reflection.

Call to action states what you want others to know from your story.

Grammar and spelling is on level for the class.

Check it!

Use this checklist to edit your work.

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Share it!

Record your narrative or read your narrative out loud to the class.

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Discuss it!

What do you want leaders and politicians to know about your experiences with climate change?

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Listen to our stories!

Storm Narratives

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Share your journey with us!

@subjecttoclimate

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Creators & Collaborators

Please leave this slide for attribution.

Authors

Scientist Reviewer

Image Resources

Christa Delaney

Archibong Akpan, Ph.D.

Template Slides:

Elizabeth Ward

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Images from:

ReShot, FreePik, Unsplash