Both Coin Operated (Nicholas Arioli) and One Small Step (Taiko Studios) feature children with dreams of space travel and the long paths they take to reach them, but their journeys are wildly different in tone, logic, and genre. One leans into whimsical fantasy, the other into emotional realism. If you’re looking to teach summary writing with animated shorts, this film pairing offers the perfect blend of contrast and connection.
This post includes a free printable pack with everything you need to teach a skill-based writing lesson using these two beloved animated shorts. Students will analyze character choices, summarize events, and make thoughtful decisions about how they would act differently in the same situation.
👉 Grab the handout that includes compare/contrast charts, opinion writing prompts, and a Google Slides version.
🎬 Why This Film Pair Works So Well
Both shorts:
- feature a child character with a huge dream: reaching the moon
- show the long-term effects of persistence—one through money and fantasy, the other through school and sacrifice
- contain no spoken dialogue, which helps students focus on visual storytelling and inference
- are under 6 minutes each, making them ideal for writing lessons and short film studies
📘 Lesson Plan Overview
This 2-day lesson is designed for grades 4–6 and aligns with writing standards W.4–6.1, W.4–6.3, and RL.4–6.3. It’s a great way to teach summary writing with animated shorts while also building skills in opinion writing and genre analysis.
Students will:
✅ summarize a character’s actions across three key scenes
✅ reflect on and write about how they would have acted differently at each turning point
✅ analyze the difference between realistic fiction and fantasy
✅ compare and contrast the journeys of Luna (One Small Step) and the boy (Coin Operated)
✅ practice opinion and summary writing using evidence from both films
🗂️ What’s Included in the Free Handout Pack
1. “What Would You Do?” Writing Chart
A three-part T-chart where students summarize the boy’s actions and describe what they would do differently at each turning point. Promotes both reflective thinking and opinion writing.
2. Compare the Dreamers: Coin Operated vs. One Small Step
Side-by-side comparison chart with prompts for setting, tone, support systems, type of journey, and genre (realistic vs. fantasy).
3. Google Slides Version
All materials are also available in an interactive digital format for Google Classroom or other online learning platforms.
👉 Download the handout pack here.
✏️ Classroom Activity Highlights
If you’re looking to teach summary writing with animated shorts in a way that’s engaging and standards-aligned, these activities are ready to go:
1. Summary Writing with Personal Reflection
Students identify the boy’s actions in Coin Operated and then ask: What would I do differently?
This approach encourages students to reflect on the logic of character choices and propose alternate actions with justifications.
2. Compare Two Lunar Journeys
Using the second organizer, students track how both characters—Luna and the boy—pursue their dreams and how their paths, motivations, and support systems differ. Bonus discussion: Is one journey more inspiring than the other?
3. Genre Talk: Fantasy vs. Realism
Prompt a short discussion or exit slip:
- “Could this story happen in real life?”
- “What clues show us the difference between realistic fiction and fantasy in each film?”
4. Extension Prompt: One Dream, Two Stories
Invite students to write a short paragraph or quick write answering:
Who do you think worked harder for their dream—Luna or the boy? Why?
Ready to get started?
Perfect for summary writing, opinion writing, or even character studies. Use these activities during reading block, writing workshop, or as part of a compare-and-contrast unit.
Want more?
Explore more lessons in the series—from teaching theme and plot structure to using film for figurative language and problem-solving writing.
Explore all Animated Shorts Lessons
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If you are looking to add some high interest activities to your lessons, try using animated shorts to teach reading and writing skills. This packet contains graphic organizers covering many Common Core skills. $Save$ when you purchase this mega bundle which includes all 12 units.
