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STORY STARTERS
There are several things I like to do when I'm visiting
elementary schools. The following works well with all age groups.
This is an exercise that helps them think of new titles for my series. You don't even have to continue the story but it gets them thinking! |
| You can write on the board:
IF YOU GIVE A SNAKE A...... IF YOU GIVE A PUPPY A..... IF YOU GIVE A TURTLE A.... |
| Then have them finish the title. OR, have them make up their own titles. If they want, have them try to write the story, following the pattern of IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE. I think it's a great idea to team the kids up and have one write and one illustrate! |
Here's another idea I use in the classroom:
1. Tell kids to find pictures of people or animals. They can be from a magazine, real photographs or drawings they do. |
| 2. Have them chose 3 pictures. Have them give the person or animal a name and then describe them. Age, where they live, what they like to do, etc. |
| 3. Then ask how the 3 characters know each other. Are they friends? Cousins? School mates? |
| 4. Ask them to write a little story with the 3 characters. |
| You can also do this as a classroom project. Have them develop the characters and the story as a class. They can all do illustrations for the story! |
I'll be adding new ideas from time to time!