In each week's class, students will learn a writing lesson, be shown a surprise picture to use as inspiration, and will be given 10-20 minutes to write a creative short story which they can share with the group at the end of class.

This class will meet on an ongoing basis, each class with the same structure, but a new picture prompt each week.

Class Activities: 

- Introduction

- Writing Lesson: 
          Topics vary but may include: parts of speech (adjectives, verbs, adverbs, etc.), figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification, etc.), characters, setting, plot, poetry, problem and solution, writing great first sentences and story endings, and a variety of other writing topics. 

          Upcoming Topics: 
Monday, December 2 through Sunday, December 8: Fables
Monday, December 9 through Sunday, December 15: Fairy Tales
Monday, December 16 through Sunday, December 22: Folk Tales
Monday, December 23 through Sunday, December 29: Tall Tales
Monday, December 30 through Sunday, January 5: Pourquoi Tales
Monday, January 6 through Sunday, January 12:  Adventure
Monday, January 13 through Sunday, January 19: Mystery
Monday, January 20 through Sunday, January 26: Realistic Fiction
Monday, January 27 through Sunday, February 2: Historical Fiction
Monday, February 3 through Sunday, February 9: Science Fiction
Monday, February 10 through Sunday, February 16: Fantasy
Monday, February 17 through Sunday, February 23: Mythology
Monday, February 24 through Sunday, March 2: Biography & Autobiography


- Choose our surprise picture: 
          A student is randomly chosen each week to choose our surprise picture. The chosen picture (often a cute or funny, age-appropriate image) will be used as inspiration and the topic of the story each student writes. 

- Brainstorming: 
          The teacher will facilitate a time of brainstorming and answering questions about the picture to help students develop ideas for their stories before writing.

- Writing time: 
          Students will write their stories in a private (just one student) breakout room for 10 to 20 minutes. The time given varies based on the number of students in class and how long other activities take. Most weeks, most class sections will have 15-20 minutes. On some occasions, in full classes, or where there is more discussion during the writing lesson and brainstorming times, students may have less than 15 minutes, but never less than 10. Students are encouraged to write as much as they can in the time they have and are reminded that it is okay if their story is not completely finished when time is up.

- Sharing time: 
          Students are welcome to read their stories aloud (though not required). The teacher and students will offer positive comments, emojis, and reactions to each other. 

*Please note that this class does not focus on helping students improve spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, or other writing mechanics.