A spooky story in 3 boxes

Every lesson

1. 

   Lesson 1 · 0:50

   Somebody wants something

   Your turn: Pick a hero, what they want, and what's in the way.

   Watch lesson 1 ▶

   What the film says

   1. 0:00

      Want to know the secret shape of every story? Three boxes!

   2. 0:05

      Box one, the beginning. Box two, the trouble. Box three, the ending. Movies, comics, and games all use it.

   3. 0:16

      Every story starts with someone who wants something.

   4. 0:20

      Meet Sam. Sam wants to fall asleep.

   5. 0:25

      But something is in the way. The dark! Sam is scared of the dark.

   6. 0:31

      A hero. What they want. What's in the way. Now you have a story!

   7. 0:37

      Your turn. Pick a hero. Write one line: what do they want? Then write what's in the way. When you're done, press Next.

2. 

   Lesson 2 · 0:47

   Box one: the beginning

   Your turn: Draw three boxes. Box one shows who, where, and what they want.

   Watch lesson 2 ▶

   What the film says

   1. 0:00

      Grab a sheet of paper. Draw three big boxes. One, two, three.

   2. 0:07

      Box one is the beginning. It shows who your hero is, where they are, and what they want.

   3. 0:14

      Here's Sam, in bed, in a cozy bedroom. The night light is on. Sam wants to fall asleep.

   4. 0:22

      Under the picture, write one line. Sam is in bed and wants to sleep.

   5. 0:28

      Stick figures work! Show who is there and where they are.

   6. 0:33

      Your turn. Draw your three boxes. In box one, draw your hero and their place. Write one line under it. Then press Next.

3. 

   Lesson 3 · 0:45

   Box two: trouble

   Your turn: Something gets in the way. Then make it worse.

   Watch lesson 3 ▶

   What the film says

   1. 0:00

      Box two is the trouble. Uh-oh! Something gets in the way of what your hero wants.

   2. 0:07

      Click! The night light goes out. Now Sam is in the dark.

   3. 0:12

      Then make it worse. Sam looks up. A tall shadow is on the closet door! It has big ears!

   4. 0:20

      Is it a monster? Big trouble makes everyone want to know what happens next.

   5. 0:26

      Under the picture, write one line. The night light goes out!

   6. 0:31

      Your turn. In box two, draw the biggest problem. Make it worse than you first planned. Write one line. Then press Next.

4. 

   Lesson 4 · 0:48

   Box three: the ending

   Your turn: Show how it turns out, then tell your story out loud.

   Watch lesson 4 ▶

   What the film says

   1. 0:00

      Box three is the ending. It shows how the trouble turns out.

   2. 0:05

      Sam grabs a flashlight and shines it on the shadow. It's only a coat! Sam laughs.

   3. 0:12

      Does your hero get what they want? Sam does. Sam can sleep, and the dark isn't scary anymore.

   4. 0:20

      Under the picture, write one line. It's only a coat!

   5. 0:25

      Now tell your story out loud to someone. Point to each box as you go.

   6. 0:30

      Did they look confused? Find that box and fix it. Draw it again, or change the line.

   7. 0:37

      Your turn. Draw the ending in box three, then tell your story out loud. You made a story!