Outdoor Writing Workshop
People have been inspired by the natural world throughout all recorded history. Inspiration is a key ingredient in education, so going outdoors to learn is something to consider not only when learning about living things.
Check out this video featuring Boston elementary school students going outside for creative writing.
boston schoolyard initiative
Bubble Poetry
This English Language Arts Activity allows students of all ages to access the power of metaphor and imagery by comparing their bubbles to experiences, feelings and the world around them.
Materials:
- Bubble solution
- Bubble makers
- Bubble containers
- Journals
- Pencils
What is a metaphor? What is imagery? These are questions that English teachers ask their students every year. This Bubble Poetry lesson provides an easy, inexpensive and engaging way for students to apply these concepts to poetry.
I like to ask, "What does the bubble compare to? Is the earth? A ball?" It is delightful to see the students use their imaginations and be creative not only with their words but also with their bodies.
Invite four or five students to blow bubbles. Allow the remaining students to run and pop as many bubbles as possible. Rotate the students who wish to blow bubbles until everyone has a turn. That's the physical part of the lesson.
Encourage students to find a quiet spot. Direct students to sit down and write about the bubbles using metaphors, imagery and adjectives. A prompt might be, "My bubble is a [noun]."
I've taught this lesson to all ages: from seniors in high school to first graders. All of them find themselves able to access the power of metaphor and imagery by simply comparing the bubbles to experiences, feelings and the physical world around them. Witness the joyful laughter that spontaneously bubbles from the younger children. Older students get to reconnect with their inner child.
Click here to detailed outdoor writing lesson plans for 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. My hope is that this idea is helpful to you not only as a lesson plan, but also as inspiration for additional creative outdoor writing prompts.