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Creative Writing

Creative Writing: Tell a Tall Tale with Figurative Language

3-10 students Standard

With an emphasis on figurative language, students learn about tall tales and write their own ridiculously exaggerated stories! US Western expansion history, geography, and culture round out this fun class!

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Class Description

In this 6 lesson interactive live class, the wild western frontier is the setting where your tall tale story comes to life. Each class will start with an interactive lecture where all students are expected to participate. We'll read (and watch videos) of the tall tales of Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, John Henry, Slue Foot Sue, and others, while exploring US history and geography. Through these fun adventures, you'll learn why these exaggerated stories were told in the first place. Before you write your own tall tale, you'll learn what every tall tale story needs to be successful. Finally, you'll P.L.A.Y. with your words to create a dynamic tall tale hero or heroine, craft an exciting plot full of conflict, and write a ridiculously exaggerated tall tale of your own with a satisfying and unbelievable resolution. 


Details:

Every class starts out as a lecture then turns interactive to engage learners in conversation and class participation. Questions, discussions, and activities are encouraged for understanding and creating your own tall tale hero and story. Time will be given in class for writing assignments, however the majority of the writing will be done outside of class. 

Lesson 1: History of the Tall Tales 
                Who told Tall Tales and Why?
                Create a Tall Tale hero
Lesson 2: Setting of Tall Tales
                 Exploring natural wonders and where your story can take place. 
Lesson 3: Figurative language used in Tall Tales. 
                Students will practice figurative writing they will use in their story. 
Lesson 4: Plotting the beginning of the Tale Tale. Students will write the opening of their story. 
                 What needs to happen in the beginning of a Tall Tale story?
Lesson 5: Plotting the middle and ending of the Tale Tale. Students will write the middle and ending of their story. 
                What needs to happen in the beginning of a Tall Tale story?
Lesson 6: Revising the Tall Tale. Students will learn revising techniques and receive personal attention for their stories. 

** This class is designed to foster a love of storytelling, and while good writing and sentences will be addressed, that is not the emphasis or goal of this class. For strong writing techniques, see my "PAINT with your Words" and "Perfectly Powerful Paragraph" classes.


Additional Information

Class size: 3-10 students

Supplies:

Students should have a couple of pencils, notebook paper, and a folder or 3 ring binder. Final stories will need to be typed and shared with the teacher for input. Worksheets will be provided.

Class tags:
Creative Writing General Language Arts Writing

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About Gina Conroy

I love when students get excited about writing, even reluctant writers. Whether they love to write or find it difficult, I make it fun and show them how to use their writing super powers!  After graduating with a degree in communications and journalism, I published several fiction and nonfiction books as well as hundreds of newspaper, magazine articles and blog posts. I hosted a podcast called Teen Writers Publish for teens of all ages based on the bestselling Amazon book “Release the Novel in You.”  While attending writing conferences for 20 years, I designed courses to teach my homeschooled kids how to write more descriptively. Aside from being a private writing tutor, I’ve taught in private schools, homeschool co-ops as well as writing programs to the public.  While there’s no greater reward than seeing a confused or frustrated child light up with understanding, I love challenging the gifted to reach their full potential. No matter where your child’s writing falls, I’ll encourage, challenge, and take their writing to the next level.  My guidance will inspire your child’s voice to be released, and my instruction will shape ideas into creative, cohesive, and impactful writing, which benefits every subject.

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