My students, being ten and eleven year olds, tend to skip over prewriting and jump into the rough draft without a firm grasp on story structure. To help them understand what prewriting is all about (and why it’s so important), we went through the prewriting process together. I must say, their excitement and imagination during this activity was highly contagious.
First, we listed a bunch of topics. Everything from snowstorms to puppies to food fights. What did my class pick? Invasion. Go figure.
Second, we listed a bunch of genres. My students voted for fiction. They voted again on a sub-genre. I was thinking science-fiction would win, but much to my delight, they voted for romance. My interest was definitely piqued.
So we had narrowed down our focus to a romance about an invasion. If that doesn’t make you giggle, I don’t know what will.
Third, we filled out one of my most favorite graphic organizers of all time. It’s called the Somebody Wanted But So graphic organizer, and it’s divided into four columns.
First column is Somebody (the characters). My students, keeping romance in mind, chose two characters: Jared, a big, handsome, smart athlete, and Sarah, a pretty, freckly, flirty farm girl. They chose the adjectives, not me.
Second column is Wanted (the character’s goal): Jared’s goal is to take Sarah on a date so he can propose.
Third column is But (the conflict): This is where the story gets interesting. Keep in mind, this wasn’t just a romance, but a romance about an invasion. So, alien’s invade Earth, kidnap Sarah, and take her to space where they will force her to marry the alien-prince. (My students were getting very silly at this point, but still on task!)
Fourth column is So (how is the problem solved?): Naturally, my students decided Jared would buy a spaceship, fly to this alien-planet, fight the aliens, and win back his woman. 24 5th grade HEA’s in the making.
The pitch? A handsome athlete sets his sights on a flirty farm girl, determined to win her hand in marriage. But alien’s invade earth and steal her away. Can the handsome athlete fight the aliens and win back his woman before they force her to wed the alien-prince?
Question to Ponder: What do you think? Future Best-seller in the making?
Glad you all appreciated the story! My 5th graders are very creative this year. I'd say about 50% of them absolutely love writing, which is not usually the case. Most often, getting 5th graders to write is like pulling teeth. So I'm having a lot of fun with this group this year. 🙂
This is so cute! At least you know you have a class full of really imaginative kids to call on if you ever get writer's block 🙂
Too funny! How lucky are they to have a teacher who is also a writer!!! You're doing awesome!!!
I think those fifth graders are blessed to have a serious writer as their teacher. They're all getting a good start on writing basics and who knows, some may well become best-selling authors one day. 🙂
Oh, how fun! Who woulda thought? Perhaps we all should enlist the help of kids for our next story line; they know what's happenin'
I want an advance copy! I want an advance copy! This is sooo funny, Katie, I love it. Fifth grade is my favorite grade to teach. The kids crack me up.
I wanted to tell you too that I hear you on your son's upcoming birthday. I was always overcome with sentimental feelings close to my kids' first birthdays. For my son's–my firstborn–I reflected not only on his first year of life, but the changes I had gone through as a person since becoming a mother.
Have a great Thursday!
You need to sell that idea to Pixar or Disney. That's really cute!
Oh my gosh. I wish you were my teacher! You are so creative. I know your students will remember this. Sounds like you make learning a lot of fun! Thanks for this great story!
BTW- Thanks for the 5 words. They are in today's post.
Katie,
This was just too cute. I am still surprised that romance won out. Even funnier was the sterotype characters that we are all writing about as grown ups. Such a clever angle to take with your class. I wish you had been my teacher!
Your kids are geniuses. Geniuses! I love the chart you use with them. It makes it so simple. Thanks for sharing this!
What a fun project! I'm so glad you're teaching this to your class. I know my daughter does writing workshop every day at school, too.
That is so great. Those students are blessed to have you for their teacher.
You must be such an inspirational teacher. I sat with my fifth grade teacher every day at recess. She was old and crinkly, but I didn't mind. You are probably that for your students, but without the old and crinkly.
~ Wendy
Most definitely!!! LOL
That's so crazy that it might actually be one if written well!
If vampire stories can be bestsellers than surely romance alien novels can be.
LOL Interesting mix to the story. What's more you're giving the kids useful tools to help them break down a project
I think that every Tuesday, the class should write a "chapter" of this story, and you post it on your blog on Wednesday. 🙂 Forget publishing, I wanna know now! lol…
Move over George Lucas, those kids have the making of the next great space opera!
Katie, I am so stealing this outline! Your class is very creative, can I steal them too?
The story has me piqued. Tell them to keep writing.
LOVE IT!!! I definitely can see this as an animated movie someday! 😉 I think that outline is awesome for kids. I'll have to use it for my kids during our writing class. I tried using Plot & Structure, but it went a bit over their heads! 🙂
I bet you had a lot of fun teaching this!
This is so funny! And saleable. Hahaaa! I hated prewriting in my classes. You know how you teachers would make us draw the little circles and the lines connecting the circles. I forget what it's called but I always tuned out.
Your column idea sounds like a success though! The human heart wants a HEA, I think. 🙂
LOL! oh Katie, that's priceless. Yes, I'd buy that book! When will it be coming out????!!! :))