Creator: Bruce Van Patter | visit site
Grade Range: K - 5
This site offers FREE creative writing activities for kids, teachers, and parents plus information on writing and inspiring creativity. Students will love the "What If Genie" who poses intriguing what if questions. The Wacky Headline Maker challenges students to fill in the details for enticing headlines. MugShots provides students with a great pre-writing task that helps with character development. Even the most reluctant writers will enjoy this great place to find writing ideas. Build creative flexibility and originality with the What If questions and increase elaboration skills with the Mug Shots activities. Want to know more about creativity skills? See TeachersFirst’s <a href="/istecre8/">Dimensions of Creativity</a>.
In the Classroom
Using Mugshots, have students work in small groups to complete the writing activity. Have students put together information in a text document. Read each group’s mugshot (without noting the authors to prevent biases) and vote on the one that offers the most creative and developed character. Highlight what made winning mugshots using an interactive whiteboard or projector. Continue using this process to encourage character development in student writing. Challenge students to create their stories into online books using a tool such as Bookemon, <a href="/single.cfm?id=10404">reviewed here</a>.
At Home
Help your student enjoy writing by suggesting they use one of the fun ideas from this site. Do it together and share the experience.
Tags
characterization, creative writing, writing, characterization,