If we do not teach the upcoming generations how to write we will have a sad future of reading old books without hope for new ideas on paper. Writing is also becoming more essential as we move to a technologically dominant world where we communicate via email, text, etc.
- Idiom Activities
If you are looking for idiom activities that won’t “cost an arm and a leg” then look no further. Here you can find five idiom activities that are not only effective for children, but they will have fun learning them. We use idioms all the time, but we may not even know that is what we are doing. A quick refresher on idioms is a phrase commonly used and understood, but its actual meaning cannot be deduced from the individual meaning of words in the phrase.
Using idioms in writing enhances visualization and helps the writer portray their point in a more dramatic and clever way.
- Spider Diagram
Choosing a topic is one of the most difficult but foundationally essential parts of beginning to write. Learning how to organize writing is a huge part of constructing those first essays. If a topic and subtopics are well thought out before writing begins the writing process will go much more smoothly and children will have more positive writing experiences and feel more confident.
A spider diagram starts with one big central circle which is meant to represent the main idea of whatever is being written. The legs of the spider’s body will represent subtopics or paragraphs.
- The Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich
This is a common activity that is used by teachers in the upper elementary age group to practice thorough writing skills. This can be done with a variety of instructions such as how to do a chore that the child is in charge of and does often enough to know the details.
How to do this activity: Have the child write very detailed step by step instructions of how to do a task. Once finished it is fun and effective to read through it and do exactly what was written to see if they missed any steps.
- Online Review
If your child is old enough to know how to type, this is a great activity for them to practice both writing skills and typing skills. If they have not learned typing yet, you could have them write the review on paper and then transfer it to the online platform later. Let them write their own opinion in the review, so try to choose a product that they use or are familiar with.
To add incentive you could also have them choose something small to order specifically for this project. They are sure to love it! This is also a good opportunity for them to use their voice and really think about their personal opinions.
- Personal Journaling
Journaling is a great way to cope with emotions, keep a personal record and so much more. Not to mention, it is a fabulous writing activity. These days there are so many different types of journals that have prompts in them or just cute blank ones. The practice of even writing a few sentences a day will have a long reaching effect on the child’s writing skills over time. It also develops good daily habits that could lead to other healthy habits.
Next Generation Writers
Writing skills are becoming ever more important. Whether at home or in the classroom, these ideas will be fun for kids and get them excited about writing. With the basic writing skills that kids will develop during these activities, they will have a solid foundation for all types of writing as they progress.
