Planes 3 Lesson Plan Soar Story: Planes 3!
Lesson Plan • Pixar-Style Screenwriting
90 Minutes
Objective
To guide a 3rd-grade student with autism through the process of creating an original screenplay for a "Planes 3" story, focusing on character, setting, problem, solution, and lesson learned.
Audience
3rd Grade Student
Tier 3 Individual Support
Why This Lesson?
This lesson helps students develop creative writing, critical thinking, and storytelling skills through a structured, visual, and engaging process. It provides a supportive framework for students with autism to express their ideas and build a narrative.
Teacher Preparation
Review all generated materials and the Teacher/Parent Guide.
Print all 7 worksheets and the Story Outline.
Gather crayons, markers, and drawing paper.
Materials Needed
Whiteboard or large paper
Crayons/Colored Pencils
All 7 Character & Story Worksheets
Storyboard Slide Deck
Teacher/Parent Guide
Markers & Drawing Paper
Step-by-Step Instruction
1
Warm-Up & Introduction
10 mins
"Welcome to our 'Planes 3' storytelling adventure! Today, we're going to create our very own movie story, just like Pixar!"
Discuss favorite Pixar movies and what makes them good (characters, adventure, messages).
Explain the mission: building a story step-by-step.
2
Step 1: Choose Your Crew
15 mins
Material: Character Choice Worksheet
Guide the student to draw and write about chosen characters. Focus on heroes, friends, and special traits. Use Teacher Guide prompts.
3
Step 2: Where in the World?
10 mins
Material: Setting the Scene Worksheet
Decide the location (airport, mountain, secret hangar). Focus on sensory details: what it looks like and sounds like.
4
Step 3: The Big Problem!
15 mins
Material: The Big Problem Worksheet
Identify the conflict. Use prompts to help the student describe feelings (worried, determined) and the stakes of the problem.
5
Step 4 & 5: Solutions & Finale
25 mins
Materials: Solving the Challenge & The Grand Finale
Brainstorm attempts to fix the problem (Step 4) followed by the ultimate exciting solution or climax (Step 5).
6
Closing & Summary
15 mins
Materials: Lesson Learned Bubble & Story Outline
Identify the theme/lesson learned. Transfer all key ideas onto the 'My Planes 3 Story Outline' for a complete summary.
Storyboard Slides My Planes 3
Storyboard
Director Name:
Scene 1: [Scene Title]
Take 1
Draw Scene Here
Narration
The scene begins when...
Dialogue
Character 1: "________________"
Character 2: "________________"
Scene 2: [Scene Title]
Take 2
Draw Scene Here
Narration
Next, something happens when...
Dialogue
Character 1: "________________"
Character 2: "________________"
Scene 3: [Scene Title]
Take 3
Draw Scene Here
Narration
Suddenly, they discover...
Dialogue
Character 1: "________________"
Character 2: "________________"
Scene 4: [Scene Title]
Take 4
Draw Scene Here
Narration
But then, a challenge appears...
Dialogue
Character 1: "________________"
Character 2: "________________"
Scene 5: [Scene Title]
Take 5
Draw Scene Here
Narration
To solve it, they try to...
Dialogue
Character 1: "________________"
Character 2: "________________"
Scene 6: [Scene Title]
Take 6
Draw Scene Here
Narration
They realize that...
Dialogue
Character 1: "________________"
Character 2: "________________"
Scene 7: [Scene Title]
Take 7
Draw Scene Here
Narration
The big moment arrives when...
Dialogue
Character 1: "________________"
Character 2: "________________"
Scene 8: [Scene Title]
Take 8
Draw Scene Here
Narration
After that, things begin to...
Dialogue
Character 1: "________________"
Character 2: "________________"
Scene 9: [Scene Title]
The End
Draw Scene Here
Narration
Finally, they learn that...
Character Choice Worksheet Character Choice
Planes 3 Adventure • Step 1
Director Name: ____________________
Date: ____________________
Old Favorites
Think about characters from the movies! What are they like now?
Dusty Crophopper
Draw Dusty Below
My ideas about Dusty:
Skipper Riley
Draw Skipper Below
My ideas about Skipper:
New Characters!
Let's invent new planes! What do they look like? What are they good at?
Character Name:
Type of Plane:
Special Skill:
Draw New Plane Here
Character Name:
Type of Plane:
Special Skill:
Draw New Plane Here
Setting the Scene Worksheet Setting the Scene
Planes 3 Adventure • Step 2
Director Name: ____________________
Date: ____________________
Where does the adventure begin?
Is it a bustling airport, a race track, a mountain, or somewhere brand new?
It takes place in/at:
It looks like:
I would hear these sounds:
It feels:
Draw Your Story Setting Below
The Big Problem Worksheet The Big Problem
Planes 3 Adventure • Step 3
Director Name: ____________________
Date: ____________________
What goes wrong?
The big problem is:
The characters feel:
This is important because:
Draw the Problem Below
Solving the Challenge Worksheet Solving the Challenge
Planes 3 Adventure • Step 4
Director Name: ____________________
Date: ____________________
Your characters are brave!
How do they try to fix the big problem? Do they work together or invent something?
First, they try to:
This makes things:
Better
Worse
Next, they get an idea:
Draw Characters in Action Below
The Grand Finale Worksheet The Grand Finale
Planes 3 Adventure • Step 5
Director Name: ____________________
Date: ____________________
The most exciting part!
How do your characters finally solve the big problem? What is the thrilling climax?
The Big Solution!
They finally solve it by:
Everyone Feels:
The Best Moment:
Draw the Big Finale Below
Lesson Learned Bubble What Did We Learn?
Planes 3 Adventure • Step 6
Director Name: ____________________
Date: ____________________
The Main Lesson:
What did the characters learn?
The Audience Message:
What do you want the audience to think?
Draw a picture of the lesson below
Bravery
Teamwork
Friendship
Effort
My Planes 3 Story Outline My Planes 3 Story Outline
Complete Movie Summary
Director: ____________________
Project ID: P3-2026
1 My Characters
Main Hero:
Friends/Team:
New Character Idea:
2 My Setting
The story takes place at/in:
3 The Big Problem
The main challenge is:
4 Fixing It
First they try:
Then they try:
5 The Grand Finale
The big solution happens when:
6 The Lesson Learned
My story teaches us that:
Planes 3 Teacher Guide Teacher/Parent Guide
Soar Story: Planes 3!
General Support Tips
Keep it Visual
Refer to drawings, images, and the storyboard often. Visual prompts reduce cognitive load and help maintain focus.
Break it Down
If a step feels overwhelming, break it into smaller parts. Focus on one box or one drawing at a time.
Be Patient
Allow plenty of time for processing and responding. Silence is often productive thinking time for Tier 3 students.
Specific Praise
Instead of "Good job," try "I love how you drew [character name] flying through the clouds!" Praise the specific creative choice.
Prompts for Each Step
Step 1: Characters
"Who is the main hero? What makes them special?"
"Who are their best friends? Do they have a mentor?"
"What does [character name] want more than anything?"
Step 2: Setting
"Where does the adventure begin?"
"What does this place look like? Sunny or cloudy?"
"What sounds would you hear there?"
Step 3: The Problem
"What goes wrong in your story? What is the challenge?"
"What makes the hero feel worried or determined?"
"Who or what causes the problem?"
Step 4: Solutions
"What do they try first to fix the problem? Does it work?"
"Do they ask for help? Who helps them?"
"Do they learn something new while trying to solve it?"
Step 5: The Finale
"What is the most exciting moment in the story?"
"How do they finally overcome the big problem?"
"Is there a big race or a clever invention?"
Step 6: The Lesson
"What lesson do the characters learn?"
"What message do you want the audience to understand?"
"Is it about bravery, friendship, or trying your best?"
Note: If the student gets stuck, offer a simple example or start a sentence for them to complete. Focus on the joy of creating!
