By Presto Plans
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and with love being the focus of so much great literature, this holiday naturally lends itself well to the English Language Arts classroom. It's also a time when you can foster your students' creative writing by introducing a holiday twist. I'm excited to share 4 creative writing activities that you can use to incorporate the spirit of Valentine's Day in your ELA curriculum this year.
1. Writing a Break-Up Letter
Valentine's Day doesn't have to be all roses, chocolates, and love! You may want to try flipping the holiday on its head with this anti-Valentine's Day writing assignment where students write a break-up letter or text message!
To make the most of this activity, I suggest beginning with a class discussion on what a healthy relationship looks like. Then, I take it a step further by having them share what they think a good break-up looks like. You can get students to discuss their thoughts in groups for this, and after, you can share your own thoughts and discuss as a group!
Then, students will be tasked with developing two fictional characters whose relationship is on the rocks. Students will brainstorm important information about the fictional couple (i.e. how they met, what their personalities are like, what their relationship is like, etc). They must also develop a reason for the breakup and decide which, of the two fictional characters, wants the relationship to end.
Some students have taken this as a real-world writing exercise where they use it to break up with their real boyfriends or girlfriends! I can't be held responsible for any broken hearts. 😉 Others have even taken a different approach by having famous couples break up (think Mickey and Minnie). Some have even written break-up letters with bad habits they have or difficult situations like doing schooling online!
Once students decide on what approach they want to take, they will make an outline of their break-up letter or text message before writing a final copy. I tell students to be upfront and clear about the intention to break up in their letters. I also encourage them to be as specific as possible about why they feel the relationship should come to an end.
The best part comes in the sharing! There will be lots of laughs if you have students volunteer to read their writing aloud to the class. You might even consider bringing in some broken heart cookies.
2. Write Your Own Pop Sonnet
3. Crumpled Heart Writing
How do you think your students would react if you told them to crumple up a piece of their writing and throw it around the room? This is the premise behind the next creative writing Valentine's Day activity I want to suggest called crumpled heart writing. This collaborative writing activity will get even your most reluctant students putting pencil to paper.
Here's how it works:
- Start by giving each student a different narrative story starter. I use picture prompts for these, but you can also use written prompts. Students will be given a set amount of time (around 10 minutes) to begin their stories. This is where they will introduce the setting, at least one character, and start the plotline. Printing the pre-made templates or having your students do their writing on pink paper is recommended if possible, so they will look like hearts when crumpled.
- Once everyone has had time to get their stories started, it’s time for the best part! Get students to crumple up their pages into "hearts" and throw them to the front of the room.
- Then, have each student go to the front to retrieve a new story from the pile of crumpled paper hearts, go back to their desk, smooth out the paper and continue writing where the previous writer left off.
- The second writer will continue the plot, further develop the characters, and create a conflict in the story.
- This process repeats once more with another crumple and throw. The third writer will resolve the conflict and bring the story to a close.
- Finally, students must return the story to the original author so they can write a final copy.
Quick tip: Have your students write in pen. Sometimes pencil can be hard to read with multiple crumples.
4. Write Cupid's Resume
