Is your child a budding writer? Or do they hit a wall when starting a writing assignment? In both cases, the best way to develop writing skills is by engaging something every child has: imagination. Here's a fun exercise that turns a Saturday trip to the local zoo into an all-out writing frenzy.
Grade
Subject
Thank you for your input.
What You Need:
- Small notebook
- Pen
- Colored pencils
- Map of the zoo
What You Do:
- Ever wonder what happens in the zoo at night? What those exotic beasts do when no humans are watching them? Pitch this story idea to your child and watch their eyes light up. Encourage them to write as wild, crazy, or funny a story as they like. It can be science fiction (tigers that are spies from Mars?), fantasy, adventure, or even a realistic story written from the animal's point-of-view. It can be a short story or a series, a play, or even a newspaper article. Anything goes, really: what matters most is that their imagination, and writing skills, are engaged.
- Now that they have their story idea, it's time to do a little research at the zoo. Once there, try to slow your child down. Ask them to observe the zoo environment using as many senses and descriptive words as possible, and encourage them to write these observations down. If they like, they can even accompany their observations by drawing sketches with the colored pencils. Prompt their creativity with questions such as:
- What's your favorite animal?
- Could this be the main character of your story?
- What are some of the animal's most interesting characteristics or behaviors?
- What details can you observe about the animal's environment?
- What do you think the animal is feeling or thinking about?
- What are some other animals you might work into your story?
- What can you observe about them and their environment?
- How do you think these animals would get along if there were no cages separating them?
- What kinds of people do the animals make you think of? (Example: a penguin looks like a man in a tuxedo, a peacock looks like a colorful princess)
- After your child has enough food for thought, it's time to head home and start writing. Encourage them not to think about structure at first. Instead give them 30 minutes to “power write”, or just write without worry of how it will all come together.
- Afterward, ask them to read the draft aloud to you. Help them select what they think are the best parts. Then, guide them through working up a beginning, middle, and end. Chances are these in-depth, free-form stories will be fun, zany and full of insightful observations.
Using your child's natural curiosity and vivid imagination is a great way to get pen to paper. And you've spent the whole afternoon learning about animals without once switching the television to Animal Planet!
Related learning resources
Narrative Story Organizer
Worksheet
Narrative Story Organizer
Second graders love telling stories! Help them plan their own small moment stories using this handy graphic organizer.
2nd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
The Stories of Summer
Worksheet
The Stories of Summer
...Did you enjoy riding the most thrilling roller coaster? Did you fly to the moon?...
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Hooks in Informational Writing
Worksheet
Hooks in Informational Writing
Students will discover three techniques to hook readers: with an interesting fact, a question, or by imagining a scene.
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Reading Skills: Sentences to Stories
Workbook
Reading Skills: Sentences to Stories
The reading and writing practice in this workbook will get kids thinking about all the different parts that go into a good story, like vocabulary, structure and sequencing.
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Workbook
Summer Vacation Writing Prompt
Worksheet
Summer Vacation Writing Prompt
A summer vacation writing prompt might inspire a "must do" list, or, get your child imagining wild vacation spots. Maybe Mars?
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Casey at the Bat
Workbook
Casey at the Bat
Practice reading, writing, and understanding poetry with the help of the Mudville Nine by exploring the classic poem, "Casey at the Bat."
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Workbook
The Life of a Seashell
Lesson plan
The Life of a Seashell
Have your students explore the writing process by imagining the life of a seashell.
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Lesson plan
Cursive Z
Worksheet
Cursive Z
Zach and a zoo zebra help kids practice writing capital and lowercase Z in cursive on this third grade writing worksheet.
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
The Korrigan
Worksheet
The Korrigan
Read this creepy story about a mythological creature called a korrigan, then answer the comprehension questions at the end.
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Ice Cream Graphic Organizer
Worksheet
Ice Cream Graphic Organizer
Get the scoop on your stories with this ice cream graphic organizer!
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Realistic Writing
Worksheet
Realistic Writing
Give your students practice bringing their stories to life as they write realistic fiction!
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Storyteller
Activity
Storyteller
This project will help keep your child's thoughts in order as he creates stories from the beginning all the way through to the end.
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Activity
See this activity in a set:
Story Starters for Kids