Lesson Plan Title: Lesson Plan Title: Dear Esther: Non-Traditional Storytelling

Grade level: 10-12

Subject: Language Arts/ Creative Writing
Contributor: Mikayla Jones

Overview
Students will play the game Dear Esther and analyze the meaning of the story and how the
environment is used as a component of storytelling.
Objectives
Students will analyze a non-traditional form of storytelling, identify how symbolism can be used
in this form, and why this form of storytelling was chosen by the creators.
Goals
Students will learn how to critically analyze storytelling in a non-traditional medium.
Materials
Dear Esther
Computer
Paper and pencil
Instructions
Students will form groups of two to three and play Dear Esther.
While playing students should discuss and take notes on:
What do you think the markings on the walls mean?
What do you get from this experience that is different from a novel or movie and
why did the creators choose to tell their story this way?
What are some of the recurring symbols within the story?
After playing students should discuss and take notes on the following questions.
What is the purpose of including the story about the sheep herder?
What is your interpretation of the ending?
Who are you playing? Are you Esther? Yourself?
Closure
When students are done discussing within their groups, the whole class will come together for a
closing discussion and share their thoughts on the questions with the class.
Assessment

Students will hand in their discussion notes at the end of the class. The notes should show that
the students put in an effort to think beyond the surface level of the game.

Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.6

Analyze a case in which grasping a point of view requires distinguishing what is

directly stated in a text from what is really meant (e.g., satire, sarcasm, irony, or
understatement).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.7

Analyze multiple interpretations of a story, drama, or poem (e.g., recorded or live

production of a play or recorded novel or poetry), evaluating how each version
interprets the source text.