Tired of the same old writing prompts? Try a furry one!
Earlier this week I took our one-year-old dachshund/chihuahua/Jack Russell mix dog – Toby – into the local kindergarten class. It was hard to tell who was more excited, Toby or the kids. After things calmed down, we focused on observation, with a special emphasis on details (color, size, ears, tongue). The kids then worked in their journals. Some chose to draw first; others wrote first.
Toby circulated around the room as the kids worked, providing them with an up-close opportunity to add additional details. Some added how soft his ears felt, others mentioned his sharp claws. Reading their finished pieces to Toby was a powerful motivator. So was having their picture taken with him.
Of course, description is only one of the many ways to direct this lesson. Kids could have created stories in which Toby was the main character. They could have written about their own pets, or they could have given their opinions about dogs and provided reasons. So many options, so little time!
Yes, this caused excitement and exuberance. But, isn’t that what we want writing to be about?
Bob,
What a wonderful way to get kids excited about writing! Sure you and Toby loved every minute of it.
Totally!