I like to think of our time together as a creative collaboration, so calling them lessons feels unnatural and too school-like. I prefer to use the words exercises or sessions in lieu of an implied curriculum.
This sample Week One topic is Decidedly Decadent Descriptions. In addition to our journaling and weekly activities, in this workshop, we will examine ordinary objects and attempt to make them terribly boring or wildly extraordinary with our impressive use of adjectives, literary devices, and descriptive language.
Why do this?
- Students will be challenged to use language to describe things in a new way, which means those brains will be oozing creativity.
- Using everyday items is both accessible and comfortable, which helps to boost confidence in expression.
After we work together to come up with our creative descriptions, students will be encouraged to write a story or poem about an everyday object, and make it extraordinary.
To help the kiddos get started, here are a few questions to guide them along the way:
- Why did you choose this object? What do you like or dislike about it?
- What happens if you look at this object in a different way?
- Does this object matter to your personally? Is it important or more of a luxury?
- What are the qualities of the object? Make a list.
- And so on, guiding questions are important to help the student think and create.
Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. There is absolutely no pressure, just fun. There’s potential content all around us.
By the end of this exercise in descriptive language, my goal is that your student will feel confident with their ability to simply start writing about ANYTHING, and to make ordinary items more interesting using their own creative voice.
Scribbles & Stories for Students 