Mini-Lesson

Creative Writing

Mini-Lesson: Grades 4-6

Objective: Students will brainstorm ideas for the next installment on an online storytelling project.

1. TFK Kid Reporter Rebecca Joskow's timeforkids.com article Sharing a Story, is about a year-long writing project called The Exquisite Corpse Adventure. Get students in on the fun. Read the first installment of the story here.

2. After reading the first installment of the story online, have students brainstorm ideas for the next section. Point out that brainstorming is an essential part of the writing process, and that authors often find inspiration for their own writing by reading the work of others. This is especially true for writers participating in the Exquisite Corpse project. Each person's work is based on the work of the person who came before him or her. It must move the story forward, and eventually bring it to a conclusion.

3. Have students work independently to write the next section of the story. Before reading author Katherine Paterson's contribution to the story, available online October 9, have students share their own work and predict what Paterson will write about.