• Inspired Learning
    • reading
    • writing
    • art
    • math
    • science
  • Creative Learning
    • Preschool Activity Bags
    • LEGO Learning
    • Field Trips
    • Lapbooks & Notebooks
  • Interest Led Learning
    • Delight Directed Learning
    • Cultivating Curiosity
  • Co-op Learning
    • CO-OP Class Ideas
    • Geography Fair
  • Privacy Policy

Walking by the Way

the road to inspired learning

  • Inspired Learning
    • reading
    • writing
    • art
    • math
    • science
  • Creative Learning
    • Preschool Activity Bags
    • LEGO Learning
    • Field Trips
    • Lapbooks & Notebooks
  • Interest Led Learning
    • Delight Directed Learning
    • Cultivating Curiosity
  • Co-op Learning
    • CO-OP Class Ideas
    • Geography Fair
  • Privacy Policy

Creative Writing ~ Week 2

February 25, 2012 by Ami 7 Comments

Creative Writing Lesson Plan Week 2

We spent the second week learning about sensory details and why it's important to include them in our writing. It must not be very important, though, to include them on a blog (because I know someone who never does). 

Teacher's Notes 
1. Students read their metaphor poems (assigned last week).

2. We discussed the five senses and how we use our senses to explore the world. Writers can engage the sense of the reader; it makes the writing real. 

3. We read Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and discussed her amazing use of sensory details. I emphasized how the sensory details make the story work for the readers; Yolen transports us to the snowy woods where we are curious and hopeful.

4. I gave each student a cotton ball, a Hershey kiss, and a jingle bell. They used the items to complete a sensory detail chart. I banned them from too common words such as sweet, chocolate, candy, etc. for the Hershey kiss. I did this for each item because creative thinking is the goal. Encourage the use of metaphor and simile. Remind them that this is hard work. Writing isn't for wimps!

5. Where Am I? (writing activity)
My wonderful assistant and I blindfolded the students. We took them into a another classroom where a sensory adventure awaited. I told them to imagine where they were and what was happening.

There was music playing — rowdy western music, quiet classical music, and even a thunderstorm.  We sprayed a light smelling spray in the room. We misted them with water. There were fans blowing (we turned them up and down and all around). And we gave each of them a peppermint patty to eat. I think we did this for about four minutes. At the end we took the blindfolds off and told them to capture as many sensory details as possible using one of the charts. 

6. We read over the assignment sheets and asked questions.

I should add this because I mention it on the assignment sheet:
We also discussed the overuse of sensory details. We don't want to bog the reader with too much to swim through. I gave them the example of a pizza. I asked them each what toppings they like. I told them to think of their writing like a pizza. You start with the crust, sauce, and cheese. You want to add some details (toppings), but you don't want to be too zealous. It would be like trying to eat a pepperoni, green pepper, black olive, mushroom, marshmallow, blueberry, pineapple, jellybean pizza. Or something insane like that.

You can click on the image below to download the printables for Week 2.

 

Creative Writing Week 1

Creative Writing Week 2

Creative Writing Week 3

Creative Writing Week 4

Creative Writing Week 5

Creative Writing Week 6

Creative Writing Week 7

Creative Writing Week 8-9

Filed Under: co-op capers, creative cooperative classes Tagged With: co-op, creative writing, creative writing class for a homeschool co-op, creative writing lesson plans, free writing lessons, homeschool writing

Comments

  1. Aimee says

    February 26, 2012 at 12:21 am

    Ami
    I absolutely love and appreciate this series that you’re sharing. I love writing, it’s one of my passions, but translating it into lessons for my kids has been a challenge and I’m not satisfied with the curriculum that I’ve seen so far. So we’re making it up as we go along. We’ll definitely be doing this in our home and possibly with our co-op as well. Can’t wait for the rest of the posts…

  2. Sarah says

    February 26, 2012 at 8:32 am

    Awesome! I’m an elementary school teacher and we always had fun coming up with ways to add sensory details. I love the blindfold idea.

    One of my favorite lessons for adding details to writing in general was using Dr. Seuss’ And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street. The little boy starts out with a boring story and adds and changes it to make it more interesting. We read the book to the kids and then paired them up to come up with their own story that no one could beat. The results are fantastic!

  3. Nicola Kennedy says

    July 31, 2019 at 8:28 pm

    Hi Ami,

    These look great. Unfortunately, the links don’t seem to be working for me.

Trackbacks

  1. Creative Writing ~ Week 4 | Walking by the Way says:
    March 6, 2012 at 8:52 am

    […] mastered metaphor, studied sensory details, and improved our ability to show. In Week 4, students learned to capture images. We had some […]

  2. Creative Writing! | Walking by the Way says:
    March 11, 2012 at 7:58 pm

    […] Creative Writing Week 2 […]

  3. Creative Writing ~ Week 1 | Walking by the Way says:
    March 11, 2012 at 8:01 pm

    […] Creative Writing Week 2 […]

  4. A is for Anteater » Creative Writing Week 2 says:
    April 12, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    […] continued along with our Creative Writing Class, lessons and materials provided by Ami at Walking by the Way, and just finished Week […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Meet Ami

Welcome! I’m a big believer in inspiring kids, cultivating curiosity, delight directed learning, living books, field trip adventures, and keeping your sanity while homeschooling. I hope you find something encouraging here today! You can learn a bit more about me here.

Connect with me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Subscribe

Search

Popular Posts

The Ultimate List of Homeschool Co-op Class Ideas

The Ultimate List of Homeschool Co-op Class Ideas

40+ Books for a 3rd Grader Who Loves to Read

40+ Books for a 3rd Grader Who Loves to Read

Ultimate Guide to Preschool Busy Bags

Ultimate Guide to Preschool Busy Bags

LEGO Unit & Lapbook

LEGO Unit & Lapbook

Ten Favorite Free Websites for Homeschool

Ten Favorite Free Websites for Homeschool

25 Ways to Cultivate Curiosity in Your Children

25 Ways to Cultivate Curiosity in Your Children

We’re Going on a Word Hunt Sight Word Activity

We’re Going on a Word Hunt Sight Word Activity

LEGO Learning Kindergarten Kit

LEGO Learning Kindergarten Kit

Read to Me & ABC Preschool Curriculum

Read to Me & ABC Preschool Curriculum

Copyright © 2021 · Simplify on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in