what would be a good creative writing exercise for 8th graders?

Question

I work with children in an after school program and I want them to think outside the norm. I have some ideas but I would like some input on this subject to have their minds really going. Any ideas are welcomed and most appreciated.

Answer 1

Try reading 30 Ideas for Teaching Writing, published by the National Writing Project. It's got a lot of great ideas -- for free!
http://www.writingproject.org/cs/nwpp/print/nwpr/922

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Answer 2

You might consider topics that are fun/silly, but allow for lots of creative thinking. Some examples:

1) What would a cloud say on a rainy day?

2) When grass is getting mowed, does it like to have it's 'hair' cut?

3) Which tastes better? the donut or the donut hole?

4) What does a bird think about when it is soaring above the clouds?

5) What would a shoelace say if it is tied too tightly?

6) Are snowflakes happy?

7) A teacher's job is hard work because ...?

You get the idea. Be creative and let the kids have fun with their writing.

Best wishes and good luck.

P.S. I learned about these types of ideas for creative writing from a wonderful little book by Roberta Jean Bryant called: "Anybody Can Write: A Playful Approach".

Answer 3

Creative Writing 8th Grade

Answer 4

1. My kids like doing Round Robin Writing... You give all of the kids the same prompt, such as, "It was a dark and stormy night..." and let them write for 3 to 5 minutes. Then switch! All of a sudden, they are eager to read what the person before them wrote and to add their own ideas.
2. Wacky Newspaper Stories
I actually got all of my pictures from Yahoo, under offbeat or wacky news stories. Then I have the kids use summary writing skills (Who, did what, when, where, why, how) to write an article. My favorite pic was the one of Bush making that gross face while holding the baby.

Hope this gives you some ideas,
Mon :-)

Answer 5

Ask them to choose one of the following topics:

1) Ask them to write an essay on what the world would be like if the world stopped using money, and used trade instead.

2) Ask them to write an essay on how the world would be different if there were no colors, no racism, or/and no prejudice.

3) Ask them to write an essay on a current issue about the world.

4) Ask them to write an essay about the future, how they think they will live, and how the world will be different.

Let each of them choose the one they want, and then, put them into groups according to how many students there are, and let them share their essays (If wanted) and walk around making sure they are all being good.

Answer 6

First off, I am a student who has done many creative writing exercises. Many of the ones I liked included a box. "5 years from now, you find a box in your closet." Or "One day you recieve a large/small package." then add an ending, such as explain what happened next, or what is inside it, or what do you do with it.

this is just a box example. there are many other ways to go

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

creating posters
for local shop windows.....
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=advertisement+posters&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2
http://images.google.com/images?q=advertisement+posters&gbv=2&svnum=10&hl=en&start=20&sa=N&ndsp=20

first, they must determine...
--who are they
--what's their message
--who is their target audience
--how are shops different....some will have "guidelines" on what they will display
--why are shops different
--how do you know your audience gets your message
--how do you know if you've changed any minds

--how do you decide on a message
--how do you decide on the most powerful wording
--graphics....yes or no

--where do you get your materials
--how are your materials financed

--who contacts the shops
--what do you say to them
--who writes the initial contact and the presentation


--what are some powerful public messages
--what forms do they take

--create several posters that have the same message, but that are targeted to different audiences....
...youth
...teen
...young adult
....mid-adult
....senior
....male
...female
...bi
...religious beliefs
...political affiliations
...economic levels
...educational levels

etc.....


this project
teaches them
how to work in a group
how to get their own voice heard w/in the group
how to make themselves known to the public
how to affect change
and,
most importantly,
that THEY
can change the world!

...can you dig it?