classroom activities - squarespace activities state of mind is a year long project run by the ......

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIESState of Mind is a year long project run by the Sydney Story Factory, over 600 students from 30 schools across New South Wales have contributed poetry, writing, and photographs. The aim of the project is to collect a snapshot of the ‘state of mind’ of teenagers and teen life in 2016.

“What can I do with all this writing?”When the book is released - read it!

A selection of student writing will be published in 2017 and much more work will be available online. The online material can be used as the starting point for student writing in the classroom. The activity below uses fragments of writing, photographs and the location of schools involved in the State of Mind project as the starting points for

everyday, explore new locations and think about the experiences of other teenagers.

Write a Short Story

Aim: Create a piece of short fiction based on the images, locations and incidents collected from high school students during the State of Mind workshops. In this piece of fiction students will:

create a character

use Google earth to explore various locations visited during the State of Mind project

integrate various State of Mind elements in the planning of the story write a story detailing the journey from one State of Mind location to another

From the material below students will select the the State of Mind ingredients for their story:

one object

one incident

one location

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SYDNEY STORY FACTORY * STATE OF MIND * TEACHERS NOTES

ObjectThe object must appear somewhere in the short story composed. It may be something valuable for the character, it may be something the character needs or is trying to find. It might even be something that only appears briefly in the story.

Select an object from the images provided.

Writing Part One - planning

What is the object?

Describe the object using as many senses as possible. What does it feel like, smell like?

What makes the object valuable, significant or important to a person?

What role could the object play in a short story?

IncidentOver the course of the State of Mind workshops students have written brief fragments detailing important (and maybe not so important) moments from their life.

Select one of the fragments below and use it as the inciting incident in the story. The inciting incident is the event that sets a story in motion.

Writing Part Two - planning

What is the moment or incident selected?

Students will briefly describe the moment or incident in their own words. Encourage students to add extra details, to consider the characters who might be present at the event.

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LocationSelect two locations from the list of areas visited during the State of Mind project. These locations will be the beginning and end of the journey described in the short story. Use Google Earth to investigate the locations and the surroundings. Students are looking for details about the locations that will contribute to their story. Students will decide where their story will begin and end.

Writing Part Three - planning

Describe the two locations selected. What are the differences and similarities? How do students imagine life in the place might be?

What are 3-4 things students notice, know or imagine about the two locations?

If students are using Google Earth, what are 2-3 locations the character will pass through on the journey from first location to the final location.

What are some details about locations passed through on the journey?

CharacterStudents will use the activity below to develop the protagonist of their story.

Writing Part Four - more planningFor each of the significant characters, share details of the following:

Fire - What would your character save if their house was on fire? What is valuable and important for your character?

Fear - What is your character afraid of?

Friends - Who is your character friends with? How do they add to the story?

Funny - What is something a little strange and unusual about your character?

The Story!Now it’s time for students to jump in and start writing a draft of the story that draws together all the elements developed in the steps 1-4.

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Objects

SYDNEY STORY FACTORY * STATE OF MIND * STUDENT RESOURCE

List of Inciting IncidentsSelect one of the incidents below to use as the inciting incident in the story.

* The special thing about my groups of friends is that they are quite like me & are not afraid to be different. They also are there when you need them.

* Dinner time, family time, what could go wrong?” I swear if there is 5 people in the room in my house, there’s an argument whether it’s about the internet, sport, gaming, general knowledge there is an argument, usually fueled by my brother…

* Being homeless for 9 months.

* I don’t tell my mum anything, I feel like she will get mad even though she says she won’t. So I hide my secrets & pretend it’s ok.

* My grandmother who has culture placed on her skin never told my mother the truth of the Maori past. She didn’t want her to know what white people have done.

* Family in the stolen generation Nan tells us but doesn’t say much because she doesn’t like to talk about it.

* When my mum died and brother left for the army it was really hard, but it’s alright now for dad but it’s still hard for me.

* My brother is growing up because he is in year 12 and is doing his HSC and I’ve never seen him this stressed out. He is not a kid anymore, and doesn’t have time for me anymore.

* When I eat family dinners, my dad corrects everyone’s table manners. My brother whistles, my mum yells “WHAT” when she can’t hear you; and my sister complains & I stare at my food & usually don’t eat it.

* Once I was in New Zealand and it was extremely cold and pouring down rain. My family and I were travelling in a campervan so we couldn’t drive it to get food. So my dad and I walked legit (!) 5 km till we finally found Subway and it was pitch black and night.

* I would build a place that specialises in knocking sense into people.

* One time, my sister THREW AWAY Chinese leftovers so I couldn’t eat them. Just to be selfish and mean. But I went in the bin and took out the container and ate the food anyway. What? It was a closed container! Totally safe.

* Kicked the ball over the fence and blamed it on my brother.

* I know every corner like the back of my hand. Everyone, and where they live. It was my place, and that’s how it’s going to stay.

* The council decided to add more houses where we have our sports fields. No one is happy about this!

* When I was 10, my mum wouldn’t let me drink her coke so when she was in the shower/bed I used to go & drink out of the bottle.

* One day when I was younger (10) I insisted that my dad buy me a skateboard. He did, after I told him I knew how to ride one (I didn’t). I had a high confidence and got on the skateboard only to go face first on the concrete. After learning my lesson, I took my time learning and never assumed I could do something.


* I find it embarrassing but I am scared of the dark and try to avoid it as much as possible. I don’t like telling people, but usually only when I need help.

* I went hiking for the first time and found it difficult. I had a sore back from my heavy bag on from climbing. In the end, when I got to a high point, I saw the view and regretted nothing.

* My family coat of arms would have the Fijian flag, pictures of America, pictures of the beach and Parramatta Eels’ flag.

* Secretly, I love to sit and watch fire dance & think about absolutely nothing else.

* My family speaks its own language, made-up words, made-up accents, phrases never used and words never heard of.

* There is a woman at a Thai takeaway in my town. You never notice her making a fuss, never raises her voice but always heard. She holds more respect than some world leaders. Not constantly asking whether the food is alright, but always silently there if you need something as little as another serviette. You can’t not smile after talking to her.

* The earliest memory I have is when I was three -- at a zoo there was a gorilla statue and mum took a picture of my sister and I on it -- my finger was up the gorilla’s nose when she took the picture.

* A secret place I go is my dance studio. Many people in NSW know about it (dancers). They have placed it in Mt Druitt Westfields. I can be myself and I can let go of any problems I have during that day. It’s special to me because I can stay with my friends.

* The first time I met my little cousin. When I held her for the first time, feeling her tiny fingers on my hand. Hearing her little voice cry. Always being around her.

* In year 7, I cemented the idea that I didn’t want to believe these stories that seem fictitious when logic opposed everything.

* The pain that religion caused, overshadowed this desire for faith because of the casualties and death it warrants.

* In Ramadan, we have to fast and my mum makes a lot of dinner which is yum.

* Get presents and money on Eid from family members.


Wee WaaWarilla

Moore ParkRooty HillMt Druitt

Huntleys PointPunchbowlMerrylands

HolroydMatravilleKogarahHolroyd

Brewarrina

BourkeWellington

DubboGilgandra

CoonambleDover Heights

BonnyriggKempsey

Coffs HarbourKellyville

BlacktownPenrith

Locations visited in the State of Mind projectFrom the locations below select a beginning and end for the story.


State of Mind is generously supported by Arts NSW, St George Foundation and Sydney Story Factory.

classroom activities - squarespace activities state of mind is a year long project run by the ......

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