Butler Children's Literature Center Experts Developed Engaging Activities
for Every Episode
for Every Episode
Originally published on the Library of Congress’ Read.gov website---and soon to be published in hardcover, paperback, and audio formats by Candlewick Press!---The Exquisite Corpse Adventure is a progressive story game in which one person begins a story, stops at a cliff-hanging moment, and the next person picks it up and continues until everyone in the group has the opportunity to contribute. The Exquisite Corpse Adventure was created as a national reading outreach project by the NCBLA and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
The Exquisite Corpse Adventure was played by some of America's most gifted artists and storytellers: M.T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Calef Brown, Susan Cooper, Kate Di Camillo, Timothy Basil Ering, Jack Gantos, Nikki Grimes, Shannon Hale, Lemony Snicket, Steven Kellogg, Gregory Maguire, Megan McDonald, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, Linda Sue Park, Katherine Paterson, James Ransome, Jon Scieszka, and Chris Van Dusen.
Extensive Education Resources Available!
Extending the educational impact of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure is the NCBLA's Education Resource Center, which contains a treasure trove of resources and articles, as well as activities, discussion questions, and art appreciation ideas, as well as a “read more about it” annotated bibliography for each and every episode!
Developing the activities for home and classroom for each episode were the talented faculty and students at the Butler Children’s Literature Center at Dominican University. Many of these activities can be used not only for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, but for other literary works as well. We invite you to take a look and use these free resources in any you can.
Sample Activity: Episode 2
Here is a sample of the activity created for Episode 2 by Marilyn Ludolph, Ed.D, Dominican University School of Education:
Elements of Story
Episode Two of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure introduces the reader to a new character, a villain in the story. The interaction between the protagonists (a.k.a. the heroes of the story; Nancy and Joe) and the villain (Boppo the Clown), in this chapter heighten the suspense and provide a great deal of action on the part of all three characters.
Generally, stories contain five elements: introduction, plot, climax, resolution, and denouement. It is important to track, as the Adventure unfolds, where in the episodes, the elements reside.
The introduction is where the characters are introduced, setting is established, and the plot might be set up.
Plot is when events start to occur and trouble might begin to brew and a situation is exposed.
Climax is when the real excitement occurs and the reader might be left hanging.
Resolution is the series of events following the climax. The resolution is also oftentimes referred to as “falling action.”
Denouement is when the events are wrapped up and the final fate of the characters is established.
Be sure to check out ALL the activities and resources available on The Exquisite Corpse Adventure Companion Education Resource Center!
Illustration at top right by James Ransome (c) 2010.
