In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex Lesson Plan

The Essex: Crafting a retelling

Kind of Activity:

Collaborative Writing

Objective:

To think about effective ways to represent the story of the Essex and examine what elements create a compelling tale.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.A

Structure:

Students, working in pairs, will be asked to imagine that they are creating a film of the story of the Essex. What would their key dramatic events be? Who would the choose to be the main character? Where would they begin the story and where would they end it? Would they change any aspects of the story for dramatic effect or as a way to make it more palatable to audiences who may...