This Lesson's Title:

Little Toy Friends

...or tales my teddy bear never told me

This original writing lesson was created by NNWP Teacher Consultant Regan Ringler Hartzell.

This on-line writing prompt is based on the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson. Before writing to this assignment, students should hear and discuss the poetry of this great poet.

Click here to learn more about this poet.

If you are a Washoe County teacher, click here to search for this book at the county library.

Three-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

Small children often use fantasy in their everyday lives, where inanimate objects can come to life. In this lesson, the young writer is asked to think of a favorite toy or stuffed animal in their possession that could come to life. The students will listen to or read the poetry of two 19^th century poets, and then create their own poems modeled on the premise of an inanimate object's experience. Teachers: click here to read the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait in this writing assignment is idea development; writers will use personal experience to write an original poem using toys from their childhood to expand their imaginations.  The support trait in this assignment is voice; writers are asked to create a poem that is unique to their own childhood and reflects their own experiences.