Because I need to submit work samples to the school superintendent every spring (and she specifically requests writing samples).
And because, even though I have been reading a ton about unschooling, something in me just resists the idea of not requiring any writing at all. I think Grace would write on her own, but the boys, I am pretty sure, would not write anything except the occasional signature in sidewalk chalk.
So I am requiring two written papers per week, but I'm being super flexible about what they write. I do want to see something essay-ish occasionally, though not every week necessarily. This is the list I've come up with for the kids to choose from if they don't have any ideas of their own.
- Make a page for your nature journal
- Write a mini report on an animal (use Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide
for inspiration)
- Write a comic strip
- Write something for the homeschool newsletter
- Make up jokes-write them down to show Daddy later
- Write (or start) a short story or other work of fiction
- Write a poem
- Write a haiku or limerick: cool online tool for this here
- Try flash fiction
- Start a book (or booklet) about a non-fiction topic of your choice
- Copy out a poem you like
- Copy a favorite passage from a book
- Write a review to post on Amazon
- Make up a new word and write the definition
- Make up a fantasy animal and write a description of it (where it lives, what it eats, how it looks, etc.)
- Make up a fantasy planet and write a description of it
- Make a list of things you would like to do
- ....or learn about
- ....or places you want to visit someday
- Write a review of a place you have recently visited-would you recommend it to someone else?
- Start a journal
- Write a diary entry from the point of view of another person (or the dog!)
- Write a diary entry from the point of view of a fictional character (person or animal)
- Write a letter to someone
- Design, write, and mail a postcard
- Practice cursive writing
- Learn calligraphy
- Practice typing
- Send an email to someone
- Start a blog for family members to read
- Take dictation from Rose (who is always happy to have someone write down her thoughts!)
- Make a lapbook on a topic you love
- Look up books to get at the library; make a list of the ones you want
- Collect a few picture books written by the same author; read and compare them
- Write a family newsletter or newspaper
- Make up a completely crazy story that doesn't make ANY sense
- Use a story starter tool
- Write a song (perhaps for an upcoming holiday?)
- Do NaNoWriMo in November
- Write a comparison of a book and it's movie- how are they the same? What has been changed?
- Try writing "fan fiction"-perhaps a Harry Potter short story?
- Write down a dream you had last night-illustrate it if you like!
- Write a thank-you note
- Copy a recipe from a magazine or cook book-then try to make it!
- Write a story from another point of view (ex. rewrite The Three Little Pigs from the Wolf's point of view)
- Write a play, practice your lines, and use the videocamera to film it
- Write a few sentences backwards, then go read them in the mirror
- Do Madlibs
- Try a what if prompt
- Try the Random Wacky Headline Maker
These are great ideas! I'm going to print this list out and pass it on to my son.
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