Thunder and Lightning

Spring is the season for thunder and lightning storms. Some people think they are awesome. Others find them scary. Whatever the case, they are one of nature's most amazing shows!

This week, have your little darling(s) write about a thunder and lightning storm. It can be an informative paragraph (which might take some research), a poem, or a creative story. Whatever the assignment is, here are some thunder and lightning facts to help your young writer(s) get started!

• thunderheads are dark, tall clouds
• lightning is electricity
• sometimes lightning stays in the clouds
• sometimes lightning strikes a tree or the ground
• lightning bolts are very, very hot
• thunder is an explosive sound made by lightning
• thunder is only a noise

Kids: use the facts above to create a written work all about thunder and lightning. Remember to be creative and have fun. Happy writing!

Bite Size Writing Assignment: My Easter Celebration

If your little darling(s) engaged in an Easter celebration, assign a short essay about the event.

For students who are in elementary school, a short paragraph will do. Simply have the student(s) think about Easter weekend and the events surrounding Easter and write what happened.

For older students, a full page is appropriate.

When the students finish the assignment, proofread for spelling and grammar errors. Rewrites are always a good idea and can be done the next day.

Happy Easter! Happy writing!

Bite Size Writing Assignment: Paragraph Progression in Creative Writing

While the world of creative writing has a wide open door, letting in all styles of writing and bending or breaking some archaic grammatical rules, the question remains: Is it good?

No matter what is written, natural progression is a key element to good writing. In critiquing creative writing, apart from the writer's style, the following questions should be asked:

• Does it make sense?
• Does it have an introduction and conclusion?
• Does it flow nicely?

This week, have your young writers work on natural progression in a paragraph. Make it simple, provide a topic, and give them a few rules to follow. Here's a suggested assignment:

1. Write one paragraph about an animal.

2. Make the paragraph exactly five (5) sentences long.

3. Make sure the paragraph has natural progression.

Here is an example:

My Dog

My dog, Lucy, is a great watch dog. One day she stood looking out my living room window and barked. I went to the window to see what she was barking at. A man I didn't know was in my yard. When he heard Lucy barking, he went away.

They key is to make sure the paragraph makes sense and progresses nicely. Happy writing!