The Write Bite!
Posted by Ariel WarshawKicking off our Writing Seminar, fifth graders were asked to find inspiration using their five senses. How can we describe what we’re hearing? How does that caterpillar feel in our palm? Can you describe the sound of the wind? What does that freshly pickled onion do to your taste buds? What about that velvety caramel?
Writers enjoyed two different sensory experiences. Our first Sensory Write invited students outside to experience their craft al fresco! Students sat in our garden, perched on tree stumps, strolled along the babbling brook, and enjoyed a quiet moment on Mrs. Shannon’s Bridge. In each of these places, they documented the sensations they experienced. Some students snacked on just-picked bell peppers, while others munched on mint. They wrote about the various flavors they encountered and the memories they conjured up. Others watched butterflies flutter on the coneflowers, and created tales about what flight might feel like for those winged creatures.
Our second Sensory Write took place in the Unquowa Kitchen! Chef Jess prepared tasting platters for the students, filled with flavors that both enticed and challenged. What are the perfect words for describing an apple? How can we stretch our descriptions to better illustrate what we are sensing? Is that dip creamy and tantalizing, or bland and slimy? The fifth grade writers loved describing unexpected flavor combinations, too! How would you describe a corn chip slathered in caramel sauce? Is what you are tasting or smelling stirring a storyline?
Both sensory writing experiences opened up a conversation around showing, rather than telling, our readers about what we are sensing. Students considered the perfect words to capture each authentic moment. These skills will spiral throughout our year together in Writing Seminar, and will serve us well as we move on to our narrative writing unit.
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