Transcript The Writer’s Notebook

The Writer’s Notebook
Journey
Exploration
Creativity
Observation
Self-discovery
Journal #1
 Create a list of 10 things you know for sure about
yourself.
 Examples:
 I know that I hate to be alone. I like having people
around.
 I know that spiders give me the CREEPS
 I know that I am very competitive.
 Then, choose one to expand on and try to explain why
you think you are that way.
 Example:
I think I hate spiders so much because I don’t know
much about them. If I knew which ones were dangerous,
and how to spot them, I might not be so scared of them
all. Also, watching the movie Arachnophobia in 7th grade
terrified me! I still remember those big hairy legs and
bodies scampering all over the house and barn. That
movie made me see them as evil creatures, and maybe
that’s not fair to them.
Journal #2
 If you could meet one famous person
who is currently living, who would it be
and why?
 What activity would you plan to do with
him/her?
 What 5 questions would you ask?
 What advice would you want from them?
Journal #3
 Make a list of 3 things you would change
about your personality.
 Examples:
 I would change the fact that I talk too
much.
 I would change the way I lose concentration
so easily.
 I would change the fear I have of being
alone.
 Then, choose one to explain further.
Why don’t you like it? How would you
change it?
Journal #4
 “To live a creative life, we must lose
our fear of being wrong.”
~ Joseph Chilton Pearce
 Copy the quote
 Respond to the quote by telling:
 What you think the author is saying?
 What does the quote make you think of?
 How does the quote relate to your life?
Journal #5
 Make a two column list of positives and
negatives about one of the 4 seasons.
 Example: Winter
+
Snow Days
Sitting by a fire
Fuzzy socks & blankets
COLD!!!
Gray skies
Stuck inside
Journal #6
 Think about your favorite candy item.
Write it down.
 Imagine you are a defense lawyer,
and it is your job to argue why your
choice is the best. What would you
say? What details and persuasive
techniques could you use to defend
your delicious sweet treat?
Journal #7
Topic: Grandparents
 Whether you have them yourself or not, write
some thoughts about the following:
 Why are Grandparents important?
 How do they benefit society and culture?
 What are some things they can they offer
that parents can’t?
 How should society treat the elder
members?
 If you have grandparents, take a few
minutes to write about them.
Journal #8
Topic: Families
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What is a family?
Why are families important?
How does your family effect your image?
How do you effect your family’s image?
What makes a family work well?
What makes a family struggle?
What effects do families have on the
larger society around them?
Journal #9
 Respond to the following quote:
 "Most of the basic material a writer
works with is acquired before the age
of fifteen."
— Willa Cather
 Be thoughtful in your answer. Do you
agree / disagree. Explain.
Journal #10
 Fill in the following blanks:
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Today has been ____________ so far.
I’m feeling ________________.
It’s annoying when kids _____________.
It’s cool when kids ______________.
It’s annoying when adults___________.
It’s cool when adults _______________.
I appreciate ____________.
I don’t appreciate ____________.
Journal #11
 Answer all of the following:
 What are some things that make your
generation unique?
 What are some things that “old
people” (like parents / teachers) don’t
understand about your generation.
 What you like to say to the adults of
the world if you could?
Journal #12
 Loyalty is an important quality for a
person to have.
 Write about a time when you
witnessed or experienced
loyalty, either with friends or
family.
Journal #13
 If you could have ONE superpower,
what would it be? And WHY?
 Would you use it for good or evil?
 What are some WAYS you would use
it?
Journal #14
 How does curiosity encourage
learning?
 Make a list of 10 things you are
curious about.
 Then pick 2 and write a brief “I
wonder…” statement for each.
Journal #15
 Read the poem and respond:
The Germ
A mighty creature is the germ,
Though smaller than the pachyderm.
His customary dwelling place
Is deep within the human race.
His childish pride he often pleases
By giving people strange diseases.
Do you, my poppet, feel infirm?
You probably contain a germ.
- Ogden Nash
Journal #16
 Read the poem and respond:
I Loved My Friend
I loved my friend.
He went away from me.
There’s nothing more to say.
The poem ends,
Soft as it began –
I loved my friend.
- Langston Hughes
Journal #17
 Read the poem and respond:
Tree House
A tree house, a free house,
A secret you and me house,
A high up in the leafy branches
Cozy as can be house.
A street house, a neat house,
Be sure and wipe your feet house
Is not my kind of house at all –
Let’s go live in a tree house.
~ Shel Silverstein
Journal #18
 Read the poem and respond:
If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
- Emily Dickinson
Journal #19
 If you had to be trapped in a TV show
for a month, which show would you
choose?
 Why?
 What would your character do?
Journal #20
 Write about your spring break
 High notes
 Low notes
 Sensory details (smells, sights, sounds,
tastes, textures)
 If you went somewhere…can you put us
there with you?
Journal #21
 Read the poem and respond with thoughts:
What Are Heavy?
What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow;
What are brief? Today and tomorrow;
What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth;
What are deep? The ocean and truth
By: Christina Rossetti
Journal #22
 Read the poem and respond with thoughts:
The snow is melting
The snow is melting
and the village is flooded
with children.
~Kobayashi Issa
 What is the pattern?
 Try to write your own haiku about
spring / opening day.
Journal #23
HAPPY NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!!
 Get out your WN and wait quietly.
 As you listen to the poet perform,
write your thoughts, impressions,
opinions, and connections.
 Hands by: Sarah Kay (18 years old)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p
n0zAUVkCgE&feature=player_embed
ded
Journal #24
Answer the following questions:
 Have you ever had a problem?
 What do we know about problems?
 Do problems always have a solution?
 Could there be more than one solution?
 Does a solution always solve a problem?
 List some (5 or more) problems that you
have experienced or noticed in your life.
Journal #25
 Totally, Like, Whatever, Okay
 By: Taylor Mali
Journal #26
Rain
I opened my eyes
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed
Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.
I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can't do a handstand-I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said-I'm just not the same since there's rain in my
head.
~ Shel Silverstein
 Respond to the poem, then write how you feel about rain.
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Journal #27
Respond to the poems words, meaning, message, images.
 If this sparks a memory write it.
The Other Me
The other me knows what to wear,
Fits in, doesn’t stick out,
Is one of them.
The other me remembers jokes,
Doesn’t get teased
By anyone
The other me doesn’t have big feet,
Doesn’t stumble,
Doesn’t drop her lunch tray.
So where is she,
This amazing
Other me?
~Kristine O’Connell George
Journal #28
 Answer the following questions, then
turn and talk with a neighbor.
 Why is research important?
 What benefits do we get from
research?
 What are some important things to
remember when doing research?
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There comes a time
When we head a certain call
When the world must come
together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can't go on
Pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will
soon make a change
We are all a part of
God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all
we need
[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a
brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
Journal #29
Respond to the lyrics of the song.
Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone
cares
And their lives will be stronger and
free
As God has shown us by turning
stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand
[Chorus]
When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one
Journal #30
Respond to the poem
A Helping Hand
Each day you live
Open your heart
Learn to give
Life for many
Is so unkind
Giving people
Are hard to find
So open your heart
Give what you can
We’re all responsible
For our fellow man
It’s so easy to look
The other way
But the tables could turn
On any given day
So help if you can
For one day you may be
The one who’s down and out
The one no one will see
~Ray Hansell