It is OK to be crazy when prompting the students to write creative prose. This is a fun way to get students started writing funny poetry.
Have the students brain storm as many nouns as they can. The words need to designate people, places and things. Write these with a felt marker on paper in coloured columnes. The words need to be printed clearly in big handwriting on sheets of paper and then cut into strips and sheered into group catagories.
The catagory for people might include : giant, fairy, gladiator, teacher, janitor, nurse, doctor
The group of places could contain : hospital, desert, desert island, castle, iceberg,
The collection of things may include : ice pick, rock, scissors, egg beater, heater,
Make sure the class has generated a wide range for each category.
Imaginations should already be sparking by the time you have created the list of nouns.
Cut them up and spread them out on the floor. Make sure that they remain in their categories. Have the students choose one from each category with their eyes closed. Not being able to choose the words they want will stretch the creative potential of the students further.
- Have the students jot down a story in their journals very quickly. The quicker they do this the better. You are aiming to have their creative juices flowing profusely.
- Once they have some kind of story or description nutted out they might be able to put it into poetic forming.
- Either before or after they write the poem has them illustrate the creative offering. This will help them firm up their ideas and turn the exercise into creative fun.
Here is an example of how the exercise would work.
Chosen nouns :
- Witch
- Desert
- Clock
Witch
Which Witch
went to the desert alone?
Flying on a broom
Casting shadows
across the grey sandstone
Clothes all tattered and torn
She was so very forlorn
Riding through the night all starry
Hairy, craggy and very scary
What a terrible shock
she felt when she looked at the clock
Time she said
I must take stock
This eerie night makes me wary
The students can bring their pictures out to the front of the class and recite their poetry. They may want to type the poetry out on the computer and place it into a border with their illustration. Perhaps they can mime the poem to the class after they have read it out aloud. Students might want to create a response to the poetry of others. Like this!
That Witch
That is the one!
She’s flying home
away from the sun
The sun came up
the moon went down
Time to scatter
she said with a frown.
The idea of having the class write another verse to follow on is a very good one. Who knows where such a creative adventure could take you!
If you would like to share the results of your creative endeavors please post them to the discussion boards.
