Language Arts, Writing, Journaling, Art, Mediums

Grade 1- 3

Objective

Students will learn about and practice real-object writing.

Directions

Young children are very kinesthetic learners who love to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch real objects. The objects or props you use when studying dinosaurs, such as model dinosaurs or fossil specimens, are called "realia."

This realia is very important when children are involved in object writing. There are two different object-writing types. The first one deals with children writing about their own personal experiences with the subject. For example, children may be asked to wear their favorite T-shirts and then write about the shirts; where they got them, what makes them so special, etc. The second type of object writing deals with "anthropomorphism" or ascribing human form or attributes to a nonhuman thing or being. For example, many pet owners do this with their pets, treating them more like small human babies, talking to them, cuddling them, etc.

For young writers, beginning object-writing lessons consist of fill-in stories. This gives them guidelines and experience in reading complete sentences in a beginning-to-ending format, which tells detailed information about the writing subject.

This anthropomorphic object writing activity has specific directions for students to follow. This kind of writing can be challenging for children because it requires writing complete sentences. You may want to enlist the help of adult volunteers or cross-age peers, to help the children fill in their story ideas.

If possible, bring in a leaf for each child to place on his or her desk while completing the activity.

Resources

• The Laughing Leaf activity sheet
• pencils
• drawing materials
• leaves