Harriet J. Bauman
The third and final objective of this unit is for the students to write descriptive paragraphs, short essays, and short stories. Using activities as mentioned above as warm-ups, the students will be encouraged to write in more detail, and in several paragraphs.
The students could describe a famous person or event, a familiar place, a hobby or an interest, their room or house or neighborhood, parents, brothers and sisters, Pet, a person who is important to them, a holiday, a birthday party, family customs or superstitions, their favorite color, song, television show, movie, etc.
The essays could reflect the students’ opinions on current events, or topics like ERA or abortion. Their descriptions would also be considered as essays. In addition, they could write autobiographies.
Their short stories could be based on seasons, feelings, hopes, fears, superstitions, etc. They could write or rewrite fairy tales or legends. They also could choose their own topics.
One activity I highly recommend is the following. Take three bags or boxes. In one have TIME. In another one have an EVENT. And in the third have a PLACE, PERSON, THING or ANIMAL. Each student chooses one piece of paper from each bag and must write a story incorporating all three. This kind of activity is a good one for stretching the imagination. (See the following page for an example of this activity).
