Teaching Theme with Animated Shorts

Teaching Writing Skills with Animated Shorts

The animated short film The Catch is a fable-like story in which a young fisherman has no luck until an act of kindness changes his fate. 

The Catch

Free Printables to Use when Teaching Reading and Writing Skills with the Animated Short Broken: Rock, Scissors, Paper

What’s Included

  • Video Links
    A page with links for finding the film
  • Two Activities
    • Students complete the missing details in a problem and solution chain.
    • On the next organizer, students select two themes from the story and provide proof for each.
  • Answer Keys
  • Google Slides Version
    You will also find a link to the Google Slides version of the organizers.

 

GET ACTIVITIES HERE.

 

The Catch [3:59]

The Catch is an animated short film created by students at the Ringling College of Art and Design.

 

Teaching Reading and Writing Skills with Animated Short The Catch

Film Summary

A young boy is sent out to get food for his village. He fishes for a while only catching one very small fish. The boy hears the cry of a fox. When he goes to investigate, the boy sees that the fox has tangled its hind leg in a vine. The fox immediately grabs the small fish the boy has caught and takes off running.

The boy follows the fox. First, he must crawl under thorny vines. Then the fox climbs in a hollowed-out log causing the boy some trouble. Next, the fox leads the boy up a steep rock cliff. Once the boy reaches the top of the cliff, he sees a large lake full of big fish.

Although the fox first appears as if he is stealing one small fish from the boy, he is really only trying to help the boy by leading him to a good fishing location. The boy catches a large fish which he takes back to his village and a smaller fish which he gives to the fox. At the end of the film, the fox disintegrates giving the viewer the feeling that he was a magical spirit sent to help the boy find food for the villagers.

This story is very similar to the Lion and the Mouse fable in the morals it teaches. The boy untangles the fox and in return, the fox helps the boy by leading him to a location where much large fish can be caught.

Teaching Ideas to Use with this Animated Short

Here are some activities that upper elementary students can do with the film:

Predict the plot: Before watching the film, have students predict what they think will happen based on the title and any other information you provide them. Ask them to write down their predictions and discuss them as a class. 

Make illustrations: After students watch the film, ask them to draw an illustration of the setting. 

Analyze the characters: Have students write short paragraphs or a bulleted list listing details on the main character’s motivations, actions, and traits.

Create a summary: Asking students to summarize is always a helpful activity. This is a great way to practice identifying themes and plot points.

Make a comic strip or storyboard: Visual learners will enjoy drawing comic strips or developing storyboards that summarize the animated short. Encourage students to focus on the main themes and important scenes.

If you missed the link above, here it is again. Get the printable activities plus links to the Google Slides version by clicking on this button.

GET ACTIVITIES HERE.

 

More Samples from the Teaching Writing with Animated Shorts Series

Teaching Reading and Writing Skills with Animated Shorts Pt 1 Digital+Printable
Teaching Reading and Writing Skills with Animated Shorts Pt 2 Digital+Printable
Teaching Reading and Writing Skills with Animated Shorts Digital Christmas
Teaching Reading and Writing Skills with Animated Shorts Digital Bundled

 

 Writing Series
Teaching Narrative Writing Skills with Animated Short Films Digital + Printable
Teaching Reading and Writing Skills with Animated Shorts Pt 2 Digital+Printable
Teaching Informative Writing Skills with Animated Shorts Digital + Printable
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Teaching-Writing-Skills-with-Animated-Short-Films-Digital-Printable-5042619

 

 

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3 comments

    • Huey on February 9, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    Keep on writing, great job!

    • Liz on November 3, 2016 at 2:51 am

    Hi, I read that you are a special education teacher. I’m wondering if you have any resources (activities, worksheets and printables based on book units) that are suitable to teach kids with autism in middle school?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi Liz,

      Here is a good place to look: http://www.bookunitsteacher.com/bookunits.htm at samples for many of my units. For middle school, I really like Freak the Mighty, Hatchet, and Holes.

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