Skyping with Geary Elementary

Yes, that's me on the wall, both the child me (from many years ago) and the current me. I use three screens: Keynote for the slideshow, Skype so I can see the students, and Photo Booth so they can see me. Some issues doing it this way, like I don't know WHERE to look, but it works quite well.

Skyping with Geary Elementary

Thanks for skyping, Geary Elementary. "Story starters"below.

Thanks for the fun Skype chat on Wednesday, Geary Elementary.  It was good "seeing" you!


Have any of you started your own Scribbles and Scraps file yet?  It can be a file folder, an envelope, a box...anything you want.  You can name your file "My Great Idea File" or "Scribbles and Scraps" or "Story Seeds" or make up your own name.  It's a great place to keep story ideas that may someday become wonderful stories.


In my writing funshops, I enjoy sharing story ideas with students.  Story seeds, I sometimes call them.  Below are a few.  See what fun stories you can come up with from these story seeds.

1) Some time ago I visited the Galapagos Islands, a group of volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador in South America.  On the Galapagos, you find strange and unusual animals. Some, like the marine iguana and the Galapagos tortoise, are found nowhere else on earth.

One of my favorite animals on the Galapagos Islands is the blue-footed booby. 

In this photo he appears to be amazed by his own feet!

They are pretty amazing. Bright blue. 

This one photo is enough to begin the storytelling process. 

What if he didn’t like his blue feet?  Can you tell that story?

Or what if he loved his blue feet so much, 

he became vain and boastful.  Can you tell that story?

This blue-footed booby is your first story seed.

2) Here's your second story seed:

Look at the baby sea lion in the picture below.

He appears a bit lost.

Thankfully he knows how to read signposts!

I wonder where he’s going.  

What could you write about this?  

Is the sea-lion lost or on an adventure?  

Where do you think he's going?  To find his mother?  To find a friend?  To go for a swim in the ocean? To hide from a Galapagos monster?  Yikes!

If you want to stay closer to home :-), you might like to write about a pet of your own or a pet that belongs to a friend.  Remember how I asked during our Skype chat how many of you had pets or knew a pet?  Remember how I told you pets are a good place to get ideas for stories?  

You might have a great story about your pet to write.  Fantastic! But I'd also like you to consider the third story seed below.

3) Write two letters.  

In the first you are writing a letter to your pet.  Just a few paragraphs.  It might start like this: 

Dear Twinkie, Since you’re a cat and can’t come to school, I’m going to tell you what it’s like around here.

In the second letter your pet is writing to you about things that are happening at home.   Just a few paragraphs.

Dear Sally, Since I’m a cat and you’re not, I think you should know why I scratched up your bean bag chair last night…

There you have it, Geary Elementary Story Magicians.  Three story seeds to lead you into three stories.  Have fun!

Thanks for skyping, Geary Elementary. "Story starters"below.