Students practice relating personal experiences to boring prompts in order to make their writing more exciting.
Grades(s) 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects(s) Language Arts
Objective
Students learn how to personally relate to a boring prompt in order to write an interesting paper
Materials
Students learn how to personally relate to a boring prompt in order to write an interesting paper
Lesson
Students sit in chairs in a circle without paper and pencil. The teacher puts one writing prompt on the board or on the overhead for students to see. An example of a prompt might be:
Explain how you are a lifelong learner and how education plays an important part in your life.
Students are given a few minutes to think of a way to respond to the prompt. Tell them to interpret the prompt in their own way and to think outside the box. It does not have to be about school. Ask them to think about everything in their lives that can relate to learning. What about learning good table manners? What about learning how to play a sport? What about learning how to pick out cool clothes? Ask for a volunteer to start the session with something that they have learned that is playing an important part in their life. Maybe someone will talk about a grandparent that is teaching something like fishing, cooking, gardening, etc. After one student shares, that student can call on another volunteer to share. The teacher can help out and share experiences as well. All of this is completed verbally.
After the students share, go through the same experience with other prompts. This activity can take place several times a week. The kids love it and get used to thinking about prompts in a whole new way. It also helps a class bond and get to know each other.
Assessment
Written, individual responses to writing prompts.