Picture the Music

Notes

This is an effective way to get young writers to use their observation and listening skills to generate ideas for settings description. It shows them the importance of being detailed in their descriptions.

Have the picture of the marsh on full screen.

Using a 5 point narrative planning map (where the central circle is the main idea - in this case a Marsh), ask the class/group for 5 things they can see. These will potentially be the ideas that occupy the branches of the thought map.

Explain that the music they hear will give them more ideas and colour the ones they already have.

If they are unclear about what to do, try a trial run.
Play the music and point out things that you can see in the picture.

• The sun.
• Clouds.
• Small bushes.
• The lakes.
• The grass in the foreground.

Ask them to think about how the music makes them feel.
Ask them how them music makes them see the picture differently.

When you think they are ready, play the music and let them have a go at mapping their ideas themselves.

Once they have mapped the ideas they then need to create a series of sentences. If they are not sure then demonstrate.

OUTCOMES

• They have used thought maps to organise and develop their ideas
• They have written a description of a setting
• They have an understanding of the Look listen think write concept
• They have shared their ideas and work
• They have written complete sentences

You do not seem to have the macromedia flash player installed.
Click here to visit the Macromedia flash install centre to install the Flash Player

Show