Adam Rex's "On Account of the Gum" -- Teaching PLOT! Lesson Plan

$10.00

Author Patricia Highsmith (of “The Talented Mr. Ripley” fame) has said this of PLOT: “The improvement or thickening of the PLOT is the piling on of complications for the hero….” No truer example exists than the PLOT of Adam Rex’s delightful picture book, “On Account of the Gum”.

A common enough situation—getting gum stuck in one’s hair—leads to an all-out absurd attempt to resolve the problem. The PLOT grows thicker and thicker—as does the mess!—as each suggestion leads to a further complication. (Now there are scissors … sticks of butter … a rabbit … all stuck in the protagonist’s hair … one thing leads to another in this delightful ‘chain story’.) Your students will love how funny and absurd the whole situation becomes! (This is classic Adam Rex!)

However, this silliness provides some great teaching opportunities: 1) An opening to teach your students about CHAIN STORIES, CIRCLE STORIES, and PLOT! And 2) The idea of ‘getting stuck’ provides a nice segue into discussing TIPS on OVERCOMING WRITER’S BLOCK. To that end, included here you will find a fully-scripted FEARLESS DRAGON WRITERS’ LESSON PLAN to teach PLOT and some WRITER'S BLOCK TIPS….

In this Fearless Dragon Writers, LLC Lesson Plan (created by writer and writing teacher Andrea Felcone) you will find a FULLY SCRIPTED lesson plan to teach PLOT in writing using Adam Rex’s “On Account of the Gum” as a mentor text. There are some very UNIQUE IDEAS included about ways you can play with the gum theme to inspire your students! I have created templates for you to produce “MAGICAL GUM SPLATS OF DESTINY” (containing words and phrases to jumpstart student stories--details provided in this lesson plan), and I have also provided a link where you can purchase a “MAGICAL GUMBALL MACHINE OF DESTINY”. (Should you desire to 'ramp up' the fun!) How you will use those items to enhance this lesson is explained! (Ah, a mysterious cliffhanger!) (No actual gum was used in the making of this lesson plan, and gum is NOT needed in the teaching of this lesson! I would hate for gum to get stuck in anyone’s hair, and then you’ll need butter and rabbits, and well, who has the time, and the budget, for that?)

Speaking of being 'stuck', there are valuable TIPS on WRITER’S BLOCK--and ways to help students get ‘unstuck’ when WRITER’S BLOCK inevitably rears its ugly head. This is a fun-filled lesson effective for teaching young writers (ages 8 – 13), especially reluctant writers!

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This lesson plan contains—25 pages of tested content—including Teaching Tips, Techniques, and a Fearless Dragon Writers' Writing Worksheet (filled with creative and humorous prompts) to inspire writers—even reluctant writers! Writing Concept covered: Creating a well-structured PLOT in writing. Bonus content: Tips on overcoming WRITER’S BLOCK. (This lesson was designed for 8 - 13-year-olds. There is content here to teach for 90 minutes. You can edit to fit your class length as needed.)

This Fearless Dragon Writers, LLC Lesson Plan includes:

* The Structure, Introduction, and Ground Rules of a Fearless Dragon Writers, LLC writing lesson. The goal: To make writing FUN for your students!

* Details on how to teach the featured Mentor-Text/Read Aloud: “On Account of the Gum” and Writing Concept: PLOT! As well as Author Fun-Facts to share with your class!

* Fearless Dragon Writers, LLC Writing Worksheet: A Student-handout filled with humorous and thoughtful Writing Prompts!

* Comic Strip Storyboards — and how to use them. (A very handy tool for reluctant writers!)

* Sharing Work Aloud: Ways to Encourage and Support Your Students.

* Recommended Writing Games — to increase the fun!

* Bonus Content: TWO unique ways to supplement this lesson! Ideas that amplify the ‘gum theme’ (WITHOUT using actual gum!) that students will find humorous and may inspire additional writing!

* A List of all Materials Needed to make this lesson a success! Including the delightful book, “On Account of the Gum” by Adam Rex. (This is an Amazon Affiliate Link. I earn a small percentage on qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!)