Story Cube Activity

This activity will require students to apply their understanding of the major themes and characters in To Kill a Mockingbird to create a “Story Cube.” You will create 6 related images, one on each side of a cube, that communicate a single emotion from the movie.

Materials:

You will create a “cube” from the card stock cut outs provided. On each side of the cube, you will create images cut from magazines or computer print outs, crayons, markers, colored pencils, pens, etc. You will also need glue or tape, and a pair of scissors.

Method

Step One - Select an emotion as the subject or your story cube. You can selected one of the emotions below or another appropriate emotion that is not listed

1. * love                                                * happiness                                        * loneliness
   

2. * cowardice                                  * patriotism                                      * nervousness
   

3. * courage                                        * trust                                                   * hate
   

4. * innocence                                    * hope                                                   * prejudice
   

Step Two - Imagine that each side of your cube is scene or “frame” from the movie. Each frame is separate from the other 5 sides, yet they are all related. If you turn the cube, right or left, up or down, six different frames will be viewed. Decide which frame will be your starting point. Number that side / frame number one. Next decide the direction your cube will rotate, left or right, up or down, and number the frames two, three, four, five and six.

Step Three - Design your cube one side / frame at a time. For each frame consider the following design elements:

1. People or objects: What images of people / characters / objects do you want to use to communicate the emotion you selected
   

2. Angles: From what angles do you wish to show this emotion - high, low, and/or eye level
   

3. Distance: From what distances do you wish to show this emotion? - far or long, medium, close up, and/or extreme close up
   

4. Visual elements: What colors, light, and/or lines do you want to use to communicate this emotion?
   

5. Words: What words could you use in one or more of the frames to reinforce the visual design? You cannot use the word ( love, fear, etc.) for the emotion you’ve chosen.
   

Step Four - Make each of the sides of the box part of your design, so that all the six different sides of the cube work together to your your audience the emotion you’ve chosen to communicate. Keep in mind that all six frames must work together thematically. You are not retelling the story of the movie, but rather using the six images to express a single abstract idea - the emotion you’ve chosen to communicate.

Step Five - After you’ve drawn the six images on the card stock paper, use scissors to carefully cut each side and use glue or a glue stick to assemble your cube.

Step Six - Write a three paragraph (150+ words) response that explains how you illustrate the emotion from To Kill a Mockingbird on your Story Cube.

Example - Fear

What objects, places or situations from To Kill a Mockingbird suggest fear?

A dark

street a night? A spooky noise behind you? A shadow on a wall? Fear can also arise from situations like facing down an angry person, standing up to a bully, or defending yourself from an attacker. Use situations from the movie to illustrate your chosen emotion.