A few days ago, I posted five writing activities that I created last month; here are a few more. I find that short activities of this sort are wonderful ways both to get started and to wind down. Finishing a workshop with some sort of activity leaves participants feeling energized, rather than exhausted. Quick ones of this sort are always handy! Humorous HyperbolesChildren are masters of hyperbole. Think about the way they tell stories and how, with each telling, the story becomes grander and more eventful. Adults do it too, even if they pretend otherwise!So, naturally, working with hyperboles is always hilarious. Here are two more hyperbole ideas that work well:How would you describe the most boring class you've ever had? Who has the loudest voice in your class? How loud is her voice? No, don't imitate it! Describe it.Fun with Homophones and HomographsHomophones and … [Read more...]
Five Writing Activities for Children (and Adults!)
As I was preparing to launch my online creative writing programme, I posted one writing activity per day on social media, and I loved the responses I received.Writing activities can be so much fun, and not just for children. They work just as well for adults who want to sit down and start writing too! Here are the first five; you could do one a day for the next five days to get you started. Surprising SimilesThis one is always a favourite!During a creative writing session, I asked a child to complete the simile as annoying as ____ "As annoying as my sister," she replied. I know that this child has a brother and a sister, so I asked, chuckling, "Is your sister more annoying than your brother?" There was a small pause as she looked up. He was, possibly, in the room. She gave a tiny smile and said, "No, but it's his birthday today."Have fun with your similes! Funny Fairytales We … [Read more...]
Using StoryWeaver in Class
I've been resisting writing this post for ever so long because it sounds like some sort of advertising campaign. I promise it's not. It's just that I've used StoryWeaver so many times during workshops that I really wanted to share how easy it is to bring such wonderful resources into the classroom.Why StoryWeaver?The first answer - it's wonderful material that is free for use. Is that two answers already?Considering the amount of material teachers require for class, free resources are a boon. We need them. We need to be able to share stories and ideas freely and easily.Two, I can download and use resources from StoryWeaver offline. Many workshops I conduct are in places where the internet is patchy, to say the least. The last workshop I conducted, for instance, was at a school in Bhusawal. Earlier that day, when I was trying to check my email, I took 20 minutes to open … [Read more...]