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Grades level iconsGrades 4–6
Session time icon60 minutes
Genre information iconMedia, Narrative
Video resource type iconVideos

Silly Scenes with Sean Thomason

by 826 National
In this lesson, you will create a character and show how a character would respond in a specific situation by writing dialogue, resulting in a silly scene.
About the Author

Sean Thomason has written for late night television, children’s animated television, and numerous internet companies and apps. His primary job has been writing and producing for RiffTrax, a comedy company that grew out of the cult classic show Mystery Science Theater 3000. RiffTrax creates a range of content, from online episodes to television specials to annual live shows. At RiffTrax, Thomason writes jokes, sketch comedy, website copy, and email promotions.

What Your Students Will Learn

You will learn how to use dialogue and narration in a scene to show the reader a character’s traits.

Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.B Common Core Standards Icon
Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.B Common Core Standards Icon
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.B Common Core Standards Icon
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
What You Will Do

STEP 1

Watch the video and then answer this question in your writing journal: What is the funniest thing you’ve heard someone say recently? Why did you think it was funny?

STEP 2

Next, you will create 2 very general characters to write dialogue for. On page 1 of the Silly Scenes — Handout, there is a group of traits and a group of jobs to choose from. Follow the directions on page 1 to complete this activity.

STEP 3

Read the example scene on page 2 of the handout. After you read the scene, answer the reflection question at the bottom of the page: What do you notice about the way this scene is written? What are the 2 main ways the reader learns that the Chef is forgetful and the Doctor is angry?  

STEP 4

The 2 main ways the reader...

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