Familiar surrounds can inspire the mind
When it comes to writing, some of our young people put pressure on themselves even before they begin to write. Such an unfortunate scenario can be framed by comments that we’ve all heard at some time or other: ‘I don’t know what to write about’ or ‘I’ve got nothing to write about.’
As with the use of environmental print, we can turn to familiar surrounds to help stimulate the minds of our young storytellers. By applying ‘who, what, where, why, when, and how’ we can turn some of the most seemingly mundane scenarios into gateways to extraordinary narrative adventures. For example, have a look at this video that is on the Primary School page.
Yep, a simple clothesline and some socks can be a scaffold from which our young people can launch into their imaginations. Why not build your own library of everyday situations that you can use to help your young people? But remember, you need to come equipped with ideas that can initially guide your young people towards bigger ideas. For example, if you used the image below, which is a familiar sight for some country youngsters who travel long kilometres to and from school, what questions could you ask?
Here are a few suggestions:
- Are those white flowers at the bus-stop waiting to get on the bus?
- What school do the flowers go to? Is it the Petal and Perfume school? Or maybe it’s Plants Primary?
- What are the plants taught at school? And who are their teachers?
- Who is the bus driver that picks up the students? (Your young people can be factual if they like, or they can let their leap into their imaginations)
- How long do you think the bus driver has been driving the same route?
- What happens the day the bus driver doesn’t turn up? How will the school children reach school?
- What happens if a grain of dust from the road is carried onto the bus by a school student’s shoe, and the grain becomes frightened because it had never left the road in its life? How will the dust get home? Or what adventures will it have at school? What happens if it makes new friends in the school’s vegetable garden?
Think, think, think! Nothing is impossible in the imagination. But sometimes our young people need some guidance. It’s up to you to help them.
And by the way, such an exercise is good for secondary school students too. Plus, us adults can benefit from it as well. Go on, light the wick of your imagination!
Tag:#Educators
