Ideas
Ideas for developing creative writing skills
21 Aug 2010
The following activity aims to develop children's creative writing skills through improvisation.
Picture Postcards
Time: 20min +
Number in group : Variable
Aim:To develop characterisation and story telling skills. To explore creating a script.
Space required: Large space for small group work.
Resources: Piece of paper and pen for each child
Directions: Provide each group with an image and the title of the image. Ask the group to study the image as carefully as possible, as they must try and recreate it as accurately as possible – e.g. they should capture the faces of characters/the angles they are standing at etc.Now ask them to think about the title of their picture and the roles they might be playing e.g. if the title is “Leaving Homes” are they chid/mum/dad/cousin etc. Give them a few minutes as a group to decide. Next the group must recreate their iimage. Let them hold it for 5 seconds, then clap your hands. The group should disperse around the room. When you clap your hands again, the group should enter into their image when they think it’s right for their character. As they reform their image, ask them to think about how they are feeling about what’s happening/the people around them. Now, clap your hands and the group should leave the image when they feel they are ready.Now, ask each child to find a space with paper+pen and write down everything they think their character would want to say in the story. How were they feeling? Were they cross? Did they want to make friends with anyone. This can form the basis for individual writing.
My favourite part of working with Bounce was being a superhero.
Keystage 2 student - After school club