We Are All Superheroes

Another big project that was inspired by my visit to Austin was a process drama I did with my intermediate level high school English class. 

It all started with the movie, Big Hero Six.  If you are interested in seeing how a process drama works, the lesson is here.  If you're not interested in the details, just know that process drama is a way to use role play and interaction to explore a subject matter or theme.  In this case, we became super heroes in an academy that had to help a professor defeat the super villain who was melting all the ice in the world.  Through these activities, we were able to build greater conversational English skills and learn a lot of vocabulary.  Plus, it was a LOT of FUN.

And.... my lovely friend from Austin and her boyfriend played our main characters (the professor and the villain).  They sent me recordings on Whatsapp every day to play in class.  I couldn't have asked for better actors :]

You can tell by these responses that the students enjoyed it too:

1. Did you like the super hero lesson?

We did something different.  I learned more vocabulary.

It was fun. We talking more in English and learned more vocabulary.

We need different things to do.

I laugh a lot.  It was so interesting.

It was super fun listen the messages.

Was entertaining.

Was cool drawed in the class.

The movie is fantastic and I want super power.

I like because is beautiful.  Is a creative funny lesson.

I learned more English - it was very funny

Because is fantastic.

I like because is interactive.

We make super heroes, that was nice. 

Dynamic classes are nice.  We meet more we classmates and laugh a lot and learn the same time. 

Is so much funny and interactive.

Because we had the opportunity of participated together. 

I liked had super powers. 

*My favorite - Yes, because that is so entertaining and I have to use my mind to resolve the problem and I talked more in class.

2.  Would you like to do a dynamic and interactive story like this again in the future?

Yes, because we learned more vocabulary.  Because it's fun and we play and learned at the same time... it was entertaining. 

Yes, i like to do a dynamic class in the future because I learn and is cool. 

Yes, with this activities I can learn more vocabulary.

Yes, I like have more lessons interactives because is really beautiful share with my friends and is very funny. 

No, because I don't understand the activities (this same person wrote for number 1 that it was fun and interesting and they liked it...)

3.  Do you have any suggestions to improve an activity like this?

No, is fine this. 

I like crimes. 

Maybe we can have dresses (I think he meant costumes ;] )

I liked all.

 

Super Hero ESL Process Drama

Moriah Flagler and Briana Bower

El Colegio Ecoturistico – Quepos, Costa Rica

Intermediate English – Grades 8-11

March 2015

Day 1 and Day 2

Activity: Watch the movie, Big Hero Six

Homework: Individually, answer comprehension questions about the movie.

Questions:

1.  What does Hero want to do instead of attending the university?

2.  Why does he change his mind?

3.  How does his brother die?

4.  Why does his brother go back in the building?

5.  What is Baymax’s profession?

6.  Why does Hero’s brother create Baymax?

7.  What does the villain want?

8.  Why is the villain upset?

9.  What does Baymax do to convince Hero not to kill the professor?

10.  What does Baymax say to disactivate?

11.  Who do Baymax and Hero save?

12.  What happens to Baymax at the end of the movie?

13.  What is your favorite part and why?

14.  Did you like the movie?  Why or why not?

Day 3

Collect homework and share answers in pairs.

Activity - Applications: Fill out super hero applications (attached)

Day 4

Receive acceptance letter from Professor Sparks of the Super Hero Academy, congratulating students on their acceptance.  (One per student - attached)

Acceptance Letter

Greetings,

We are writing to you because we know about your special powers. Do not be alarmed, we are able to detect special powers like yours, and we have not told anyone the abilities you possess.

Because of your great gift, you have been specially selected to attend the Sparks Academy for Super Heroes. Now you must know that just because you have extraordinary powers does not mean that you are guaranteed to become a great hero, but with our help and guidance, you will be able to achieve greatness.

The plane, which will take you to the Sparks Academy, departs a week from today. However before we leave and you begin your training we have many preparations to make. First and most importantly, we must make sure you are fit to join the Academy. Please meet at City Hall today, where Professor Moriah will meet you and begin your training process.

I look forward to meeting you in person, and please remember: There is much more to being a Super Hero, than Super Power.

Sincerely,

Professor Sparks

Volunteers read paragraphs of the letter and we discuss for understanding.  Add new vocabulary to our vocabulary books.

Vocabulary from Acceptance Letter

Alarmed

Able

Possess

Gift (as in ability)

Must

Guidance

Achieve

Departs

“make sure you are fit”

Listen to Audio 1 – Welcome speech from Professor Sparks: (script attached)

Add vocabulary from Listening

Vocabulary from Audio 1

Appear

Danger

Conceal

Regardless

Thrive

“look forward to”

Motto

Check for understanding.

Activity – Meeting other Applicants: Go to the academy and meet the other super hero candidates – Training!

Students walk around the room and must talk to at least three other super hero candidates.  Learn their story: who they are (alias), what their power is, and how they discovered it. Ask them questions and then switch… answer their questions.

Back to the circle – volunteers share about one person they met. 

Activity: Hero Training!

Games – Zap! (to practice speed and mental agility), Freeze (to practice stealth…variation of ghost in the graveyard), A,B,C in circle (to practice mind reading)

Audio 2: Receive urgent message from Professor Sparks saying they need to help her complete her mission, even though they are still in training. 

Vocabulary from Audio 2

“my time is running short”

“gone awry”

Capture

Codes

Vault

“I must go”

“They’re coming for me”

Homework:

Design and draw costumes for their super heroes on the provided template (attached).  List powers and gadgets you use.  Be ready to present your costume next class.

Day 5

Show them what I found in the vault: a soccer jersey from the “sele” of CR (the world cup selection) and a burnt note that says “I have him” in red marker.  Play the voice recording of the villain that was also left on a flash drive in the vault. 

Listen to Audio 3: Villain’s Plan

Villain: my plan is to take over the entire world and no one will be able to stop me… bwahahaha!

Hypothesize as a class on what these items might mean.  Who does the villain have?

Present costume designs.  Include what your powers and gadgets are.  Describe how you use your costume and describe colors if not present and other important aspects you can’t see. 

Day 6

Review:

Where is professor sparks?  Why does she need our help? What was in the vault yesterday?

Show images from Professor Sparks – attached (picture of the Chicago skyline and a tsunami covering a city)

Ask: What do these pictures tell us?  Why would Professor Sparks send them?  Oh, wait… she has sent us another message…. Let’s listen.

Audio 4: Kryptonite – message from Sparks explaining what’s happening with the flooding.

Vocabulary from Audio 4

Weird

Vault

Super villain

Kryptonite

Melting

Sea Levels

Strong/stronger

Captivity

“I hope”

Follow up questions:

1. What does she hope we already did?

2. What is the villain’s kryptonite?

3. What is the villain doing?

4. What is the villain’s power?

5. What will happen if we don’t stop him?

Audio 5: “You think you’re so smart little super heroes….. I got to the vault first…” Message from Villain

Vocabulary from Audio 5

“Back to the point”

“give up”

Agreement

Await

Reply

Discussion: What are our options? Elicit these two options:

1.  Save Kaylor Navas and the world floods

2.  Don’t save Kaylor, instead keep trying to stop the villain… it’s a trick.

Activity – Video Response:

Class records video response to the villain. As a class, brainstorm a script and write it on the board.  Volunteers read the lines that we agree on to send to the villain.

They sent a response to the villain saying that he shouldn't call them LITTLE super heroes and that they would defeat him

Day 7

Review: What has happened in the story so far?  Write plot on board based on various student’s summaries.  Each volunteer says one thing. 

Audio 6 -Listen to video response from Villain: “Oh, if that’s what you want…. Try to stop me… bwahahah.”

Listen to director’s kidnapping message… (because she was absent that day for a meeting).  She begs them to rescue her from a trunk of a car.  Hahaha.

In groups: Draw a map of the villain’s lair. Show at least 6 obstacles and be ready to explain how you use your team’s own special powers to pass these obstacles.  You may not kill the villain.  Remember, his power is fire and he melts things.  His Kryptonite is the special chocolate ice cream.

A group plotting how they are going to use their individual powers to get through the maze of the villain's lair

Day 8

Finish the maps and practice.

Groups present their stories of defeating the villain to the rest of the class. 

Audio 7 – “You defeated me!!!!!” Villain’s last message

Vocabulary from Audio 7

“Curse you”

Underestimated

Potential

Watch Final Video Message from Professor Sparks

Celebrate :] 

Super Hero Process Drama Lesson Scripts

Audio 1

Hello Students, Professor Sparks speaking. I apologize that I cannot appear in person. Due to the danger of my current mission and the need to conceal my identity, I cannot contact you via video message. But regardless, I would like to welcome you all to my Academy for Super Heroes. Professor Moriah has told me great things about each and every one of you, and I have no doubt that you all will thrive here at the Academy. I look forward to working with you when I return, and always remember the Sparks Academy motto, “It takes more than super powers to make a super hero.” I wish you great luck and success on your first day of training.

Audio 2

Professor Moriah and Students I am sorry to contact you like this but I fear my time is running short. My mission has gone awry. They have found my identity, and I fear they will soon capture me. I need your help. The case file is in the vault. Professor Moriah, you know the codes. Please go to the vault this weekend so that you can help me on Monday. It will be dangerous, but please, if you can, I need you to complete my mission. I must go now - they’re coming for me. Complete my mission, and know that the safety of the school and of the world is at stake.

Audio 3

Villain: my plan is to take over the entire world and no one will be able to stop me… bwahahaha!

Audio 4

Dear students,

Professor Sparks here.  I hope you went to the vault to get this super villain’s biggest kryptonite…. You’ll probably think it’s weird, but this special chocolate ice cream is the only way to stop him from melting all of the ice in the world.  As you can already see, the sea levels are rising rapidly and soon we will all be under water.  You need to stop him.  His powers of fire are strong…. But I know you all are stronger.  Don’t worry about me.  I am in captivity, but I’ll be ok.  I hope. 

Audio 5

Villain:

You think you’re so smart….. little super heroes…… bwahahahahahaha……. I got to the vault first!  Try to stop me now!!!!! Bwahahahahahaha.

By the way, your famous little soccer player says hello.  At least I think that’s what he says…. I never learned Spanish.  Bwahahahahahaahahah!  What kind of a name is Navas anyway?! 

Back to the point… if you want Navas back, you will give up right now.  Do we have an agreement?  I await your reply. 

Audio 6

Villain:

If that’s what you want…… try to stop me!  Bwahahahahaha!!!!

(Audio that didn’t happen – can be used to inspire the work of the final project in map making/ story telling or this can be teacher led)

(Professor Sparks:

You have to do this mission alone.  I can’t help you. I found this map, though, in the room I am locked in.  I think it is a map of the villain’s lair.  Think about how to use the powers you have to get through. Make a plan.  You may be student super heroes, but you have what you need to be great!)

Audio 7

Last message from Villain:

You defeated me!!!!! Nooooooooooo!!!!! Now my plan to flood the entire world with water will never happen.  Curse you, little super heroes.  I underestimated your potential.

Video Message: Last message from Professor Sparks

Congratulations, super heroes!  You completed your mission and defeated the super villain.  Not only that, but you rescued Kaylor Navas, director Xiomara, me, and the entire world.  We will be forever grateful for your bravery and problem solving.  I would like to pronounce you all official super heroes!!! And…always remember our motto: There is much more to being a super hero, than super power. Now, I’m sorry I couldn’t deliver this message in person.. but as you can see I need to protect my identity for a while now. So, uh… thank you again; I wouldn’t be around without you. Until next time…..  Professor Sparks – over and out.