Finish It!

Many people think that writing for children is easy. It is and it isn't. When you are writing for children who are learning to read, less is more. With that being said, I told you I was going to write a story for you to end. What I didn't tell you was that you need to end it in five sentences or less.

My story was inspired when I recently traveled to the zoo...the animals gave me ideas galore.

PROVE IT!

I looked once and then twice. "I think that tortoise is dead," I said to Sandy and Julie.

The girls looked at me as though I'd lost my mind. "Okay and you're going to prove it how?" Julie chuckled.

I looked around for a zookeeper. No one was in sight.

"Don't even think about it," Sandy said as I began to step over the low fence.

"Tortoises aren't the least bit dangerous," I told Sandy. "Don't worry!"

I glanced around the tortoise's lush habitat as I walked closer and closer to the gigantic creature.

"How can you tell if a tortoise has a pulse?" Julie asked.

Julie was having a good time with this for sure.

"I'll let you know in a minute," I said.

I bent over and began to lift the tortoise's head out of his dish and........

Writers: Go ahead and finish the story. An easy way to do this is to write the first thing that came to your mind when you read my last sentence. No more than five sentences will be plenty to give my story an ending. It needs one! Give it a try.
Parents: Make sure to let your kids know this story is FICTION and that no one really climbs a fence at the zoo..... then, LET YOUR KIDS FINISH THE STORY! Playful fun writing activities leads to amazing creativity!

The next time you go to the zoo, encourage your kids to do some journal writing or make up their own creative story. Wallow in the love of language and the joy of writing!