一塊石頭：退休歲月－創意寫作活動

We will begin this class by looking at pictures of all the ways a rock can be used.  It can be used to build bridges, a foot path, and even hold a book in place on a bookshelf.  We will then begin a discussion and brainstorm to see how many jobs a rock can have.  Learners may come up with such ideas as skipping it across the water, holding papers in place on a desk, propping a door open so that it doesn't close, and even painting a rock to make it beautiful.  

Then the fun will begin!  Children will be challenged to pretend they are a rock.  They will be asked to think of six jobs they may have held over the years if they were a rock.  Then they will explore how they felt about each job while being asked to attach a feeling or an emotion to the jobs.  The challenge will come in when they are asked how they felt when they had these jobs.  The rock might have been angry when he was skipped across the water because it made him dizzy!  The rock might have been bored just sitting on a bookshelf and wished he had an outside job!  A list of emotions will be provided on the organizer to help guide the children in their thinking.  Once all of the brainstorming and organizing is complete, the paragraph "A Rock: A Retirement Story" will be written when each child will be challenged to develop three jobs and the emotions accompanying them more fully.  They will also determine where they, as a rock, would choose to enjoy the retirement years.

One of the hidden secrets of this class is that children are learning and exploring the concepts of point of view and personification without even be aware that they are.  

I look forward to seeing your child in class soon.