The last two weeks have offered a wealth of writing inspiration as we participated in #write0ut, a National Writing Project and National Park Service collaboration. Teaching gifted kids challenges me to find quality writing activities that will inspire, motivate, and engage my young students. #Writeout 2021 did not disappoint. And the resources will remain available on the website here.
My students have created storyboards with Storyboard That about geological changes over time.
They wrote poetry. Things to do if you’re a puppy by Avalyn:
Pound on a window when you want
Avalyn, 2nd grade
to go on a walk, purr when you want pets.
Go outside and dig when you’re bored.
Lastly
only bark when you’re in danger.
On Friday, we ventured outside to the playground. At one school, there is a large live oak. My students sat underneath the tree for writing inspiration and gathered natural materials to create an art piece.
Golden petaled flowers
spring up from the groundLeaves slowly drift
from each branchClouds painted
on the sky’s canvasTall great trees
with green leavesSpider webs
glisten in the sunlightSquawking birds
angrily yellFellow rodent squirrels
sprint across branchesFor nature
Jaden, 6th grade (form inspired by Irene Latham)
For habitats
For life
Another #writeout prompt asked students to make a poster. We used Canva and Adalyn create this one. On Canva it’s animated. You can view the animated version here.
Reflections on the Teche 
What a lovely collection of student work, Margaret. I’m sure you are proud of your scholars! The #Writeout was a great event. It’s neat to think of all the students who got to go outside more the last couple of weeks. Hopefully much more in their futures, as well.
I loved the animated Canva by Adalyn and Jaden’s poem. I was especially drawn to the “golden petaled flowers” that “spring up from the ground,” as well as the clouds painted on the sky canvas. Lovely work by all your students!
I adored reading your students’ poems inspired by nature. Our nation’s national parks are such a gift to us all!
This appreciation for nature and celebrating it in writing is good for the soul.
So wonderful! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Wow! Nature, art and writing are an unbeatable combination. Your student’s work is wonderful and they are lucky to have a teacher that taps into their creativity.
Beautiful work! I love seeing kids outside working, it’s the best.
Love all these forms that your students use to create their art and poetry. I especially like sitting under the large oak tree at school to prompt their creativity. The storyboard about geological changes is also great. I’ve witnessed, first hand, over this last forenight, the geological changes that take place over time. Some are large changes like how the Colorado River has cut the Grand Canyon and some are smaller, still dramatic changes like the two, large dry river beds we saw on our travels in Arizona. Thank you for enriching the lives of your TAG students!
Like the others, I love that you and your students wrote outside! I’d love to do that.