Planes Lesson Plan Planes 3: Storyteller Ace
Mission Briefing: Screenplay Creation
Flight Plan
Flight Objective
The student will create a 7-step story arc for a 'Planes 3' screenplay. They will identify key elements like characters, setting, problem, solution, and lesson learned , organizing these ideas into a structured storyboard.
Co-Pilot (Audience)
3rd Grade Student with Autism. This lesson uses visual supports, sentence frames, and clear steps to reduce cognitive load and foster creative expression.
Pre-Flight Prep (15 min)
Print all worksheets: Character Crew, Setting, Problem, Solution, Lesson Learned, and Summary.
Gather drawing supplies: markers, crayons, colored pencils.
Prepare whiteboard or large paper for the initial brainstorm.
Set up the Pixar Planes Storyboard (digital slides) on a computer or tablet.
Total Flight Time:
90 Minutes (Can be split into multiple 15-20 min sessions)
The Flight Path
1
Introduction & Brainstorm (10 min)
Discuss favorite 'Planes' moments. Introduce the 7-step storytelling process.
Teacher Tip: Use the Flight Guide for guiding questions!
2
Choose Your Crew (15 min)
Complete Character Crew Worksheet. Focus on hero and new friends.
"My main hero is... because..."
3
Setting the Scene (10 min)
Describe the world. Where does the adventure take place?
"It looks like... and feels..."
4
Problem Propeller (15 min)
Identify the big challenge. What goes wrong in the story?
"The big problem is... because..."
5
Solution Soar (25 min)
Map out solution attempts and the final Big Solution (Climax).
"The big solution happens when..."
6
Lesson & Summary (10 min)
Complete Lesson Learned and Story Arc Summary sheets.
7
Storyboard Intro (5 min)
Introduce the digital slide deck for actual scene creation.
Pixar Planes Storyboard Slides My Planes 3 Story:
The Storyboard
By: ________________
Instructions
Each slide is one scene.
Draw or add a picture for your scene.
Write what is happening and what characters say!
Mission Start: Bring your story to life visually!
1 Scene 1: ________________
Drawing / Picture Box
Visual Action
Narration
"Once upon a time, in a world of talking planes..."
Dialogue
Character 1: "____________________"
Character 2: "____________________"
2 Scene 2: ________________
Drawing / Picture Box
Narration
"Suddenly, something unexpected happened..."
Dialogue
Character 1: "____________________"
Character 2: "____________________"
3 Scene 3: ________________
Drawing / Picture Box
Narration
"They knew they had to work together to..."
Dialogue
Character 1: "____________________"
Character 2: "____________________"
4 Scene 4: ________________
Drawing / Picture Box
Narration
"With a brave heart, our hero decided to..."
Dialogue
Character 1: "____________________"
Character 2: "____________________"
5 Scene 5: ________________
Drawing / Picture Box
Narration
"After all their hard work, the solution began to appear..."
Dialogue
Character 1: "____________________"
Character 2: "____________________"
6 Scene 6: ________________
Drawing / Picture Box
Narration
"And so, everyone learned a valuable lesson about..."
Dialogue
Character 1: "____________________"
Character 2: "____________________"
Character Crew Worksheet Character Crew
Who Flies Your Story?
Mission: Step 1
Name:
It's time to choose the amazing planes for your Planes 3 adventure! We need our heroes, friends, and maybe even a friendly rival.
My Old Favorites
Think about characters from the first two movies. Who do you want to see again?
1
Dusty Crophopper
Personality & Role:
Draw Dusty here!
2
Character Name...
Personality & Role:
Draw Character here!
My New Friends
Imagine new planes! What do they look like? What are their special skills?
New Character Name:
Sentence Frame:
"My new friend is . They are special because and they help by ."
Draw New Friend!
Setting the Scene Worksheet Setting the Scene
Where Does the Adventure Take Place?
Mission: Step 2
Name:
Every great story needs an amazing place! Will your Planes 3 story be in a new airport, a daring race track, or somewhere totally unique?
Name of the Place
Describe Your Setting
Think about colors, sounds, weather, and what planes do there!
My story takes place in .
Draw Your Setting
Draw a map or a beautiful picture of where the story happens.
Adventure Map / View
Problem Propeller Worksheet Problem Propeller
What Goes Wrong?
Mission: Step 3
Name:
Even the bravest planes face challenges! What is the big problem or conflict in your Planes 3 story? What makes things difficult for Dusty and his friends?
The Big Problem
Is there a new villain? A broken part? A race they might lose?
The big problem in my story is
What Happens Now?
Because of this problem, the characters might feel
Draw the Trouble
Draw a picture of the problem happening to our heroes.
Something went wrong!
Solution Soar Worksheet Solution Soar
How Do They Try to Fix It?
Mission: Steps 4 & 5
Name:
Our heroes won't give up! What things do your characters try to do to solve the big problem? Sometimes they have to try more than once!
1 First Attempt
The Plan:
"First, the characters try to
Draw Attempt 1
2 Second Attempt
A New Idea:
"Next, they think of
Draw Attempt 2
The Big Finish!
How do they finally fix the problem? What is the most exciting part?
The big solution happens when
Draw the Big Solution!
Lesson Learned Lift off Worksheet Lesson Learned Lift-off
What Message Do We Learn?
Mission: Step 6
Name:
Pixar movies always teach us something important! What lesson do your characters learn in their adventure? What message do you want to share with the world?
The Important Lesson
What they learned:
The lesson learned in my story is that .
How it helps:
This lesson helps the characters to understand .
The Message:
My story teaches us to .
Draw the Happy Ending
Draw a picture that shows the lesson learned or everyone working together.
Show the Heart of Your Story
Story Arc Summary Sheet Story Arc Summary
Your Planes 3 Adventure in a Nutshell!
Mission Log
Name: ________________
My Story Title:
Title Here...
1. Character Crew
Main Hero:
New Friends:
2. Setting the Scene
Place:
It looks like:
3. The Big Problem
The Challenge:
4. Trying to Solve It
First Attempt:
Second Attempt:
5. The Big Solution!
They solve it when:
6. The Lesson
This story teaches us to:
Ready for Take-off!
Teacher Parent Flight Guide Flight Guide
Helping Your Storyteller Soar!
Teacher / Parent Resource
Ground Support Tips
Be Patient & Positive
Praise effort and original ideas, no matter how small.
Break It Down
If a step is overwhelming, focus on just one drawing or one word at a time.
Visuals First
Encourage drawing before writing to help them visualize the narrative.
Read Aloud
Reading their ideas back to them helps them hear the story's flow and logic.
Guiding Questions for Each Step
Step 1: Choose Your Crew
"Who is your favorite character from the movies? Why?"
"What kind of new plane would be super cool to see? What special skills would they have?"
Step 2: Setting the Scene
"Where do planes like to go? What's a really exciting place for a race?"
"What colors do you see there? Is it a busy airport or a quiet mountain?"
Step 3: Problem Propeller
"What big challenge would make Dusty worried?"
"Is there a new character causing trouble, or is it a big storm?"
Steps 4 & 5: Solutions & Climax
"What's the first thing they try to do? Does it work?"
"How do they finally solve the problem? What makes it a happy ending?"
Step 6: Lesson Learned
"What do your characters learn about being a friend or being brave?"
"What is the most important message you want people to remember?"
Sky's the Limit!
The most important part of this project is the student's voice. Celebrate every unique idea!
