Lesson Plan: The Great Run and Bun Story Chase!
Materials Needed:
- Notebook or several sheets of paper
- Pencil or pen
- Timer (a phone timer or kitchen timer works perfectly)
- Optional: Story dice or pre-made "Story Element Cards" (see instructions for how to make these easily)
1. Learning Objectives (The Goal of Our Adventure)
By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:
- Explain in their own words what a "run and bun" story is.
- Identify the key elements of a run and bun scene: high stakes, fast pace, and a clear goal.
- Create a short, original "run and bun" story scene using timed writing prompts.
2. The Warm-Up: The Five-Second Problem (2-3 Minutes)
Let's get our brains moving! Present this quick scenario to the student and ask them to shout out the very first thing that comes to mind for what happens next. Don't overthink it—the first idea is the best idea!
Scenario: "You've just stolen the giant's magic golden egg. You're running out of the castle, but you hear his giant footsteps getting closer... BOOM... BOOM... BOOM! What do you do RIGHT NOW?"
Teacher's Note: The goal here is to encourage immediate, action-oriented thinking, which is the heart of "run and bun." Praise their quick idea, no matter what it is.
3. What is "Run and Bun"? (5 Minutes)
Explain the concept in simple terms. "Run and bun" is a term some writers use for a style of storytelling that is all about speed, action, and excitement. It’s like a chase scene in a book or a movie. The characters don't have time to stop and think or have long conversations. They have to run and solve problems on the go, often just barely getting by (that's the "bun," like "bumping" into the solution or grabbing a "bun" to eat while you run!).
Key Ingredients of Run and Bun:
- A Clear Goal: The hero needs something badly (e.g., escape the dragon, get the antidote, deliver the secret message).
- High Stakes: Something terrible will happen if they fail (e.g., the dragon will burn the village, a friend will be doomed).
- Constant Motion: The characters are almost always running, hiding, climbing, or driving. They can't stop for long!
Talk about it: Ask the student, "Can you think of a scene from a movie, cartoon, or video game that felt like this?" (Examples: The mine cart chase in Indiana Jones, any Road Runner cartoon, a level in a Mario game).
4. The Main Activity: The Story Sprint Challenge (15-20 Minutes)
This is where we create our own run and bun story! The challenge is to write a fast-paced scene without stopping to edit or worry. We'll use a timer to keep the pressure on and the action moving forward.
Step A: Create Your Story Elements
If you have story dice, roll them now. If not, create simple "Story Element Cards." On small slips of paper, create 3 piles:
- Character (Who are you?): A clumsy spy, a pizza delivery kid on a hoverboard, a librarian who knows magic.
- The Goal (What do you need?): To return a cursed library book, to deliver a pizza to a volcano lair, to find the last roll of toilet paper in the city.
- The Obstacle (What's in your way?): A horde of angry squirrels, a rival pizza delivery kid, a floor that has turned to slippery jelly.
Have the student draw one card from each pile. This is their mission!
Step B: The First Sprint (5 Minutes)
Set a timer for 5 minutes.
Your instruction: "Your mission is to write the beginning of the story. Introduce your character and their goal, and have the obstacle appear suddenly! Don't worry about spelling or perfect sentences. Just write as fast as you can. Keep the character moving. Ready, set, GO!"
Step C: The Second Sprint (5 Minutes)
Set the timer for 5 minutes again.
Your instruction: "Great start! Now, your character has to deal with the obstacle. How do they try to get past it? They can't stop! Do they jump over it, trick it, or use something from their pocket? Keep writing! Don't let them stop running! GO!"
5. Sharing and Wrap-Up (5 Minutes)
Have the student read their story scene aloud. It will likely be breathless, a little messy, and exciting—that's a success!
Ask these reflection questions:
- How did you keep your character moving?
- What was the most exciting part to write?
- Did it feel different writing with a timer? How?
- This is a great chance for a formative assessment. Listen for their understanding of pace and action. Celebrate the creativity and energy of their writing.
6. Differentiation and Extension (Ways to Adapt)
- For Extra Support: If writing is a challenge, let the student draw their story as a comic panel sequence. You can act as the scribe, writing down the story as the student dictates it. Use simpler story prompts.
- For an Extra Challenge: Add a "twist" card to the story elements (e.g., "The squirrels are actually robots," "Your character's backpack starts talking"). Or, challenge them to write a third 5-minute sprint where the character thinks they have escaped, but a NEW, unexpected problem appears.
- Creative Extension: Use the story they created as a foundation for a longer piece of writing, a stop-motion animation video, or a script for a short play.