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Course Overview

When it’s creative writing time, does your child freeze at the blank page—not knowing where to begin, feeling like their ideas or writing are not good enough or that everything has to be long to count as real writing? Flash fiction transforms that blank page into an exciting creative playground.

 

In this course, students learn how to write flash fiction: powerful, complete stories told in just a few sentences or short paragraphs. It teaches students to create minimalistic, impactful stories where every word counts while making writing feel achievable, exciting, and fun.

 

But this class goes beyond traditional story writing. It blends storytelling with critical thinking about AI. Students compare human-written flash fiction with AI-generated output using key story elements to identify strengths and weaknesses. They also learn to use AI tools responsibly while understanding their limitations, building confidence in evaluating AI-generated output. This combination builds confidence in writing while also developing critical thinking skills in an AI-driven world.

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Course Highlights

⚡️ Minimalistic Writing Mastery: Students learn that powerful writing comes from precision, not length—building unique, impactful stories through short, focused pieces that build confidence.

⚡️ Hands-On & Practical: Every lesson is interactive. Students immediately apply what they learn through analysis, discussion, exercises, and guided writing activities.

⚡️ Clear Skill-Building Structure: Professional writing steps and techniques are broken down into clear, manageable concepts students can understand and apply with confidence.

⚡️ AI Literacy Integration: Students compare human-written flash fiction with AI-generated output. They learn to evaluate writing quality and understand the limitations of AI, while developing critical thinking skills and recognizing the value of human originality and judgment.

⚡️ Real-Life Examples: Alongside famous authors, the course includes authentic student work showing how powerful and creative middle school writing can be, helping students feel inspired and confident.

 

Course Learning Goals

👍 Develop original and memorable flash fiction ideas

🔎 Analyze flash fiction using key story elements

🤖 Compare human-written stories and AI-generated output critically

✍️ Learn the flash fiction process from first idea to final polished story

💪 Build confidence in creative writing and critical thinking

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Course Purpose

In an AI-driven world, this course helps students understand that technology is a tool—not a replacement for their unique voice, creativity, and critical thinking. Students who typically avoid writing discover they can write when stories are short, focused, and expressive. This minimalistic approach reduces overwhelm while building confidence and creative fluency. By the end of this course, each student will have a polished, titled, and edited flash fiction story they are proud to share—along with the confidence and skills to continue writing beyond the classroom.

 

Why this course works for diverse learners:

• Neurodivergent Learners & ADHD Students: This course is highly supportive of students who experience anxiety with long-form writing. The bite-sized, fast-paced nature of flash fiction captures attention, keeps learners focused, and reduces overwhelm.

• Reluctant Writers: The short, focused format makes writing more accessible and manageable, allowing students to discover their voice without fear of the blank page.

• English as a Second Language (ESL) Students: Flash fiction makes this course an exceptional fit for language learners, allowing them to build confidence and learn how to write short, expressive pieces without fear.

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Course Experience

• Clear, visual slides featuring a friendly robot mascot

• Interactive discussions and Socratic questioning

• Hands-on writing and brainstorming in every lesson

• Guided self-checking using model answers and examples

• Engaging activities featuring modern, original stories

• Collaborative peer sharing in a supportive environment

• Optional homework for students wanting extra practice

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Course Outline

Lesson 1: Introducing Flash Fiction 🧑‍🏫⚡️
Students explore what flash fiction is, how to summarize and analyze short stories, and what makes them effective through a variety of examples.

 

Lesson 2: Introducing AI 🧑‍🏫🤖
Students learn what AI is and what it is not, compare human-written flash fiction with AI-generated output, and practice critical thinking and compare/contrast skills.

 

Lesson 3: Introducing Original Flash Fiction 🧑‍🏫👍
Students explore what makes flash fiction original by comparing unique and generic ideas. They analyze human creativity versus AI-generated writing, discuss originality, and create their first flash fiction story while evaluating AI-generated versions.

 

Lesson 4: Finding an Original Flash Fiction Idea 🧑‍🏫🧭
Students learn how to recognize original ideas and turn inspiration into story concepts. They generate “What if?” questions from images, develop story ideas, evaluate AI-generated suggestions, and shape them into simple flash fiction ideas.

 

Lesson 5: Story Elements of Flash Fiction Writing 🧑‍🏫📋
Students identify the main elements of flash fiction within short pieces. They analyze AI-generated versions of human-written stories using story elements and critically compare both.

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