Life Symbols: Getting Started

Summary

This activity will get your students thinking about moments in their lives that they might write about. This is an activity that is fun for all, especially the artistically intelligent.

Materials

• 12" x 18" white Art Paper
• Mediums such as crayons, markers, or colored pencils

Background for Teachers

Teacher should be familiar with Pre-writing traits.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The student will end the assignment with a prewriting product that will inspire writing an autobiographical piece.

Instructional Procedures

Teacher: "I think that the hardest thing about writing is coming up with something that you want to write about. The easiest writings are when we can write about our own experiences. I like to start with a symbolic chart because it lets me draw my ideas before I begin writing."

Teacher: Display a poster board and begin drawing symbols as you talk about what they represent in your own life. (You can have it already drawn if you are insecure about your artistic abilities.)

Draw things like a boat because you love to go boating, a book because you enjoy reading, a wedding ring represents your marriage; a significant and happy time in your life, etc.

The drawing needs to be simple. Tell the kids that they don't want to spend a lot of time on the drawings, but they should color them and make the chart very neat so that it may be displayed.

The chart should only have about 8 to 10 random symbols, spaced sporadically around the page.

Have the students write their name in large letters at the top of the paper so everyone knows who the charts belong to. This should be the only writing on the page.

Give the students the remainder of the time to think and draw about important events in their lives or things that they enjoy.

Extensions

This lesson can be extended by letting each child share what each of the symbols mean to them.

Be sure to display the finished posters around the room or in the hall.

The posters can be used to do jump-off prewriting activities.

Assessment Plan

Assessment should be simple. Students should receive credit for having at least 8-10 symbols. Completion and neatness should always be important.