#1989. Creative Writing - Using senses and imagination

Reading/Writing, level: all
Posted Tue Oct 24 18:12:25 PDT 2000 by Kate Toohig (k8tp6@yahoo.com).
Bedford High School, Bedford, Ohio
Materials Required: 30 manilla envelopes (depending on class size), various objects to place in the envelopes
Activity Time: 1-2 class periods
Concepts Taught: To teach students how simple it is to use all five senses to describe an object

In each numbered envelope you will place various objects such as paper clips, dice, pencil, magnet, etc. that may be described with 4-5 senses. At the beginning of class distribute an envelope to each student, denoting which number they have recieved. Be sure to tell the students that they must not share what their object is with others and that they must keep the object in the envelope. Give the students 5-10 minutes to think about their object and write their sensory description. Then one by one have the students present their description so that the class may guess what their object is. If you may distribute a second set of envelopes and go again.
Students seem to really enjoy this lesson, and I have found their description improves greatly afterwards.