The Spaceship

The Spaceship is a sit-down, small-group activity that requires paper and something to write with. A projector to show the drawing while students read the associated work would be nice.

Directions
Students should be split into small groups of four or so. Give the students the following prompt to write about independently for five minutes. "When you are going about your day, a spaceship lands on Earth. What does it look like? Who or what is inside it? What do you do?" Next, have them draw the scene independently for up to five minutes. Prompt them to add details to their spaceship, the crash landing site, and whoever/whatever might emerge from within. Share in small groups.

Next, introduce a conflict with this prompt: "Think of a conflict that could arise due to the spaceship now being on earth and how you would react during this conflict. Here are a few possibilities…When the spaceship has landed, the inhabitants of the spaceship that you described earlier present their leader who is set on destroying the human race. What do you do about this situation? OR The inhabits of the spaceship have come to earth to warn you that there is a meteorite on its path about to hit earth? What do you do?" Give students another five minutes to write independently, then have volunteers share their entire stories and illustrations with the whole class.