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Use photos as a creative writing prompt.
Work independently to write a short story.
Listen and comment respectfully on each other’s work.

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For each student:

Pen or pencil
Notebook paper
Computer or other device with internet access, or old magazines or picture books.

","preparation","

Read through and familiarize yourself with the entire activity.

Write on the board the website students will use (see link below.) Alternatively, you may supply students with old magazines or other sources of photographs of people

Google Images

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Ask students to suggest ways that fiction writers could think of ideas for a story. Point out that writers look for inspiration from many sources, including the people and events of their lives. However, sometimes the sources are random and unexpected.
Tell students that in this activity, they will write a story using photos of strangers as prompts. When they are finished, they will read their stories to the group.
Model the activity by searching for a common name in Google Images. Select a photo. Alternatively, open to a random page of a magazine and select the first photograph of a person that you find.
Ask students to provide details to create a basic character (e.g., the person is friendly and has many grandchildren). Write the details on the board. Then, repeat with another name. Tell students to think of these people as characters. Ask students how these two characters might fit into a story together, what their relationship might be, how they might react to one another, and so on.
Instruct students to search Google Images for any two names they wish, or to search through copies of magazines.
Once students have selected their images, have them brainstorm details about each character. Then have them decide on the relationship between the 2 characters. Clarify that because they are writing fiction and creating characters, they can invent any (appropriate for group) relationship they choose between the two people they select—siblings, a married couple, classmates, etc.
As students write, circulate among them to offer suggestions, respond to questions, and provide encouragement.
Reconvene as a whole group. Ask volunteers to read what they wrote. Prompt students to discuss what the people in the photos looked like, how they came up with their ideas, and what they liked about each other’s work.
To wrap up, discuss what students learned from this activity. Ask:
a. Was it easy or difficult to create a story using characters based on photos? Why?b. What was it like to create characters and a story this way rather than without a prompt?c. Do you think you could develop what you wrote today into a longer story? How do you think you can expand your ideas?

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For a more challenging exercise, students can select photos for another student to use. If devices with an internet connection are not available, students can use photos from magazines or catalogues.

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Students go through a variety of activities that help them practice their writing skills in areas such as journalism, storytelling, and more.

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Stories from Photos (Grades 6-8)

Stories from Photos (Grades 6-8)

Stories from Photos (Grades 6-8)

Overview