Media Adaptation - Student
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Media Adaptation - Student Version
What You’ll Learn
In this lesson, you’ll explore how stories and ideas change when they’re adapted from one format to another — like turning a book into a movie or a show into a comic book. You’ll also create your own media adaptation project, using your storytelling skills to reshape a familiar idea into a brand new format.
What to Expect
- Duration: 2-3 days
- Activities: Class discussions, media comparison, project planning and creation
Step-by-Step Guide
Start With a Prompt
- Look at an image, watch a short video, or listen to a sound clip.
- Write a short story imagining what’s happening just outside the frame.
What is Media Adaptation?
Media adaptation is when a story or content moves from one format to another. For example:
- A novel becomes a movie (like The Hunger Games)
- A movie becomes a stage play (like Frozen)
- A comic becomes a show (like Riverdale)
- A videogame becomes a tv series (like The Last of Us)
Explore Real Examples
- Discuss examples of media adaptations you know. What worked well? What didn’t?
- Learn about the history of media adaptation, from oral storytelling to ancient plays to modern streaming series.
- Look at a case study like Star Trek, which has been adapted into TV shows, movies, cartoons, comics, and novels.
Plan Your Own Adaptation
- Choose a piece of media you love (book, comic, movie, show, etc.).
- Decide which format you’ll adapt it to: a short film, podcast, story, comic strip, or another creative form.
Get your idea approved by your teacher. Be sure to explain:
- What’s the original format?
- What’s the new format?
- How will you stay true to the heart of the original?
Create Your Project
- Build your adaptation using the tools and storytelling skills you’ve learned.
- Think carefully about how different formats change the story — for example, how a film uses visuals and sound, while a book uses language and imagination.
- Ask classmates for feedback and revise your work.
Present and Reflect
- Share your adaptation with the class.
- Reflect on what changed in the adaptation process. Did anything get lost or improved?
- Discuss the power and responsibility of re-telling someone else’s story.
Why This Matters
Adapting a story teaches you how to reimagine, reinterpret, and creatively problem-solve. It shows you how ideas can shift across time and culture while staying meaningful. It also helps you think critically about how media influences storytelling.
Outcome: What You Will Create
- A media adaptation of your choice (e.g., video, comic, short story, audio, stage scene)
- A short reflection or presentation explaining your creative choices
Bonus Exploration
- Can adapting a story change its original message? Is that good or bad?
- How does adapting a story give it new life in today’s world?
Let your creativity lead the way!