by Paola Fanutti

Created on: April 20, 2008

The ability to write in creatively abstract, fluid and imaginative ways is an often overlooked and devalued skill that sometimes remains sadly uncultivated in the language arts curriculum in elementary schools. Thinking back to my own elementary school education in the public school system, I can recall only very sporadic opportunities where students were allowed to liberally write in styles that could be construed as creative writing.

Most of the didactic instruction in the elementary language arts program focuses on building essay writing skills and the ability to formulate an educated opinion and argue it with clarity using appropriate evidence is indisputably an invaluable skill.

But equally invaluable is the ability to think 'outside of the box', to ponder the intangible and abstract, to draw inspiration from everyday scenarios and surroundings, to explore possibilities instead of realities, and to create works of visual and written art.

Dabbling into creative writing hones the above. And there is no better time to develop creative talents than during the free-spirited youth and innocence of childhood, when the mind is not yet contaminated and prejudiced by the judgments and corruptions of popular culture.

Adding more liberal, creative writing assignments to the existing elementary language arts curriculum will not only make studying English more enjoyable for students, but will also foster creativity skills that are intrinsically indispensable to academic and personal growth. Creative writing exercises also easily integrate with other subjects and incorporate vocabulary building, grammar, spelling, and proper punctuation. Well-thought assignments can also draw on student experiences and reflections and blend well with children's natural curiosity and imagination.

Below are some interesting creative writing tasks which provide refreshing, free alternatives to rigidly structured writing assignments and are ideal for a classroom of young learners.

THE PICTORIALLY INSPIRED STORY

This is an excellent exercise for older elementary school students and opens the door to an exciting array of writing possibilities. The teacher selects different pictures and shows them to the students, asking them to formulate a story that relates to the pictures presented. The pictures become the platform for story ideas. If the teacher is working with very young students, the teacher can show the students a series of pictures that form a simple visual story and invite the students to

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