Creative writing, whether written in a Writer’s Workshop style, in a journal, or in a basic writing assignment is a crucial part of the day for any second grade child. Whether this child is an emerging writer, becoming a more productive writer, or an established writer, including creative and interesting writing topics into your curriculum is very important and it can be SO much fun!
So many creative writing lessons can stem directly from a read-aloud.
- Have your students become the character or another character in a story and tell a new point of view.
- Let the children rewrite a new ending to the story that you just read.
- Instruct the children to change the story into a play, write the play in groups, make puppets, and act out their play for the rest of the class. Visit www.janbrett.com for some great materials to use with her books!
- Only read half of a book and let them write what they think will follow.
- Put “Imagine if….”with just about anything! (Imagine if _____happened to you, imagine if the character did something different, imagine if it took place somewhere else, etc.)
Idioms are always so much fun when looking for a creative writing journal topic for second grade. Write the idiom or common expression, have the children write it and then write what they think it means! This is always very interesting and sometimes hilarious. The following books have great idioms and expressions to use!
What Your Second Grader Needs to Know
The Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms
Fun journal prompt books are ALWAYS helpful to have around. The following are few that have some really great ideas!
Writing Prompts
(This link is for the level 2 box)
Passing out photographs, magazine pictures, and so on are great ways to get children’s minds going! If they are given a picture of a setting and a picture of some characters, they can use that to create a really fun story!
The following list provides you with links to some websites who have lists of journal writing ideas! Have fun!
http://freeology.com/journal/creative.php
http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/prompts.html
http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/1860.html
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/memawscorne/Journal%20Writing.htm
http://www.letteroftheweek.com/primary_journal_ideas.html
If you have other teaching ideas for creative writing journals, post them in the comments below!
