English/Language Arts
Explore the structure of story
Author Whiting describes the plot of Steamboat Willie in detail. Have students do a close read and extract the plot to a storyboard. Use a graphic organizer like this one from Scholastic or this one from Freeology. For younger students, have them identify characters and settings, as well as beginning, middle and end. For older students, look at plot structure setup, conflict challenge, climax and resolution, or more challenging, with exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and denouement. Challenge them to add details to story elements and share them with partners.
Explore literary devices - allusion
Take a look at the title. What does Author Whiting mean by “The Mouse that Roared”? Did Mickey Mouse roar? No. So what does he mean? Have your students discuss the meaning of this title and look for other titles that utilize allusion.
Social Studies
Explore the history of film
Use this Minute to take a look at the history of film in the twentieth century. Explore how cartoons fit into that history, and ask students to explore the ways that film influenced culture, politics, and economics of the twentieth century.
STEM
Explore the science behind film
What does it take to add a soundtrack to a piece of film? What did it take prior to the digital era? How is it done today? Use this Minute to let students explore the “how” behind the finished product!
Art
Explore the art of animation
Animation is a specialized area of art, and given the new digital tools available, it is a field that’s exploding. Use this Minute to share who’s who in the world of animation! Don’t miss the Walt Disney Family Museum site.
Music
Explore the use of music in the movies
Adding a soundtrack to a video clip changes the viewer's perceptions of the video. Have your students watch Steamboat WIlly without sound and then again with sound. What difference does the sound make? Take a look at these clips from Frozen to reiterate your point!
Research Skills
What tech tools are available for this? Take a look at Storybird or Flipbook. Ask them to present a summary of this Minute using online storyboard tools of your choice.
Explore the structure of story
Author Whiting describes the plot of Steamboat Willie in detail. Have students do a close read and extract the plot to a storyboard. Use a graphic organizer like this one from Scholastic or this one from Freeology. For younger students, have them identify characters and settings, as well as beginning, middle and end. For older students, look at plot structure setup, conflict challenge, climax and resolution, or more challenging, with exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and denouement. Challenge them to add details to story elements and share them with partners.
Explore literary devices - allusion
Take a look at the title. What does Author Whiting mean by “The Mouse that Roared”? Did Mickey Mouse roar? No. So what does he mean? Have your students discuss the meaning of this title and look for other titles that utilize allusion.
Social Studies
Explore the history of film
Use this Minute to take a look at the history of film in the twentieth century. Explore how cartoons fit into that history, and ask students to explore the ways that film influenced culture, politics, and economics of the twentieth century.
STEM
Explore the science behind film
What does it take to add a soundtrack to a piece of film? What did it take prior to the digital era? How is it done today? Use this Minute to let students explore the “how” behind the finished product!
Art
Explore the art of animation
Animation is a specialized area of art, and given the new digital tools available, it is a field that’s exploding. Use this Minute to share who’s who in the world of animation! Don’t miss the Walt Disney Family Museum site.
Music
Explore the use of music in the movies
Adding a soundtrack to a video clip changes the viewer's perceptions of the video. Have your students watch Steamboat WIlly without sound and then again with sound. What difference does the sound make? Take a look at these clips from Frozen to reiterate your point!
Research Skills
What tech tools are available for this? Take a look at Storybird or Flipbook. Ask them to present a summary of this Minute using online storyboard tools of your choice.
© Karen Sterling, 2017 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission