Kid's Essay Writing Games
Essay writing is not always a favorite activity for kids. Parents and teachers can make essay writing more enjoyable with interactive games. Combining games with writing helps kids develop writing skills while having fun. They can learn essay writing basics like the elements of a good essay, how to generate ideas, and how to write essays that answer the reader's questions.
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Build A House
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Essays consist of different parts: a beginning, middle and end. Like a house, a good essay needs a solid foundation. The first paragraph is the foundation for the essay. It should have four to five sentences that describe what the essay is about. The last sentence should lead into the next part of the essay. The middle part of the house represents the middle of the essay and can consist of one, two, or more paragraphs. The roof is the final paragraph. It is the summary.
Print or draw a picture of the floor layout plan for a two story house with a foundation, two or three rooms, and a roof. Print an essay and cut out the paragraphs. On the back of each paragraph, write the number that indicates the order of that paragraph in the essay. Mix up the paragraphs so that they are not in order. A student randomly selects a paragraph, reads it to the class, and then decides if the paragraph belongs at the beginning, the middle, or the end of the essay. The student places the paragraph on the foundation, in a room, or on the roof. Students score one point for each correct paragraph placement. The first student to complete her house without making a mistake wins the game.
Balloon Pop Starters
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It isn't always easy to begin an essay. Sometimes students need idea starters. An innovative way to get students excited about writing and to have a bit of fun is to play balloon pop starters. Write the opening sentence for different essay ideas on strips of paper. Some ideas are, "My favorite game is [blank]."; "Last summer my family went to [blank] for vacation."; "The best thing about school is [blank]." Roll up the essay starters and put them in balloons. Blow up the balloons and tie them. For extra fun, put a small treat in each balloon, like a sucker. The students then take turns selecting a balloon and popping it to get their idea and their treat. Students can pop the balloon by sitting on it, poking it with a pencil, or squeezing it. The students will have a good time and they'll get some creative ideas to start their essay.
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Story Star
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Draw a five point star or create one from colorful paper. Each arm of the star will be labeled WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN and WHY to represent the five W's of a good story. Place a spinner in the middle of the star. Read a short essay to the class. Have each student take a turn at the Story Star spinner. They must then write a paragraph that corresponds to the "W" that the spinner landed on based on the essay that was read to them. If the spinner lands between W's, the student spins again until he gets a W. When each student finishes, they get to spin again. The first student to complete all the W's wins the game.
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References
- Photo Credit boy writes to writing-books image by Stepanov from Fotolia.com
