Fantasy Writing Warm-Up
For this lesson, students will be presented with a one, or a variety of pictures to choose from (teacher’s choice). These pictures should be random, fun, and something students could write a story about. Students can be prompted to write a sentence, a paragraph, or a paper. It all depends on teacher preference and students ability. An example of a student view is below. This is a great writing warm up that allows students to express themselves.
Writers get ready!
Grab your pencils, grab a piece a paper, and fire up your creative minds!
Take a look at these pictures here, choose and tell us the story the picture tells you.
To help you get started here is a sentence prompt:
“Once upon a time, there was….”
Photo by Jonas Verstuyft on Unsplash
Photo by V Srinivasan on Unsplash
Photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash
Focus on Feelings
A year like this, it is important for us teachers and our students to recognize and acknowledge our feelings. This lesson builds upon our students social emotional skills and allows them to compare how body language can be affected when we are feeling a certain way such as happy or sad. This lesson is relevant for all students as we all have feelings. The students view is presented below. Any questions may be answer via. discussion or writing.
Finding our Feelings
Hello, students! Today, we will be looking at two photos of two women.
What do you notice and what do you wonder?
Look at their body language. What are they doing with their hands? What are they doing with their eyes? What else do you see their face or their body doing?
What do you do when you’re happy?
What do you do when you’re sad?
Photo by Anh Nguyen on Unsplash
Photo by James Resly on Unsplash
Two very effective use of image blocks. Both work well to inspire students to write and share feelings. The first exercise reminds me of a writing prompt project using random Flickr images.
Two suggestions – first, don’t underline text. That implies a hyperlink. And I think the story prompt photos are excellent, but would like to see them in a larger format.
Hi Marissa. I love the idea of using pictures as inspiration for writing! I think that’s a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Another suggestion is to ask students about specific things in their own lives or cultures so you could show pictures of those and incorporate their interests. Nice job!
I really like these exercises. Having the pictures to write from and choices in pictures is really great to help out the kids that may not have ideas, or trust their ideas by themselves.
The second one was really good to illustrate feelings. The questions are very good too, and can help them build empathy for others and help them see what to look for in their friends and family.
Hi, Marissa!
What great image-based lessons!! I love your idea of giving students choices for which image they want to write about. This is such a wonderful way to get more students interested and motivated to write! Notice and Wonders are also always a good way to allow all students to participate! I can see that you value creativity and freedom for your students, and that’s great. Not enough teachers incorporate that into their lessons. You’re going to be an awesome teacher! 🙂