Array ( [article_id] => 19179 [company_id] => 1 [user_id] => 0 [article_type_id] => 58 [article_seo_url] => wander-woods [details] => Array ( [Title] => A Wander In The Woods [Description] => A Wander In The Woods invites your students to fall back in love with story writing... [Subheading] => Let's get writing today with A Wander In The Woods... [Age] => Elementary [Intro] =>

If you go down to the woods today...

Inspire your 6-12 year-olds to write a mini saga, a story told in 100 words, on the theme of a wander in the woods. Fun and engaging, with 8 story starters to help focus writing, you're sure to have your students motivated to write in no time at all!

[Rules] =>

Only one entry per student, there is no limit to the number of entries per school. Teachers please submit your entries altogether where possible!

Mini sagas can be on the entry form or an A4 sheet of paper or typed.

Mini sagas must be your students' own work.

Mini sagas must be told in no more than 100 words (the title isn't included in this).

Ensure that all students include their name and age on their entries.

Independent entries are welcome - please provide your home address details instead of the school's.

Where possible, the school to send / upload / email all their students' entries to us.

Story starters are optional but if used must be included in your students' word count.

[School Prizes] =>

1st Prize

The Young Writers' Award of Excellence!

[Student Prizes] =>

1st Prize

5 x creative writing goody bags awarded to our favorite published writers

(Winners will be chosen from entries received in Feb-Apr 2021. Goody bag contents may differ from those in the photo.)

PLUS

Every entrant receives a bookmark.

A certificate of merit for all young writers chosen for publication!

[Tips] =>

Have some fun! Get ridiculous...

Ask your students for the silliest things they could find in the woods... From a spaceship to a huge pair of socks, have a giggle with your students generating these ideas.

Next, pick one of the silly items – ask your students to tell you how they think it got there or who it could belong to. Do the same with some of the other item suggestions too.

You should have a happy, excited class by now! It’s now time to get writing! The ‘once upon a time’ story starter is perfect for this activity. What funny woodland tales will your students create?

Verb action! Encourage your students to give power to their verbs rather than using adverbs. This not only makes for more exciting reading, but it also uses fewer words, which is perfect for mini saga writing!
E.g.
'He ran quickly' becomes 'He bolted'
'I spoke softly' becomes 'I whispered'
'Mary fell down' becomes 'Mary collapsed'.

Add a twist to the tale and ask your students to write from someone or something else’s point of view. They can still use a story starter if they want to. They could write from a tree or animal’s point of view, be the weather or even a mythical creature. It’s a fun way to get creative!

Move time period or planet!

What if the woodland scene was...
• On Mars?
• In Jurassic Park?
• In 1943?
• In 2095?
• At the top of Niagara Falls?

Let your students write the kind of story they’d love to read by letting them take the woodland setting and moving to a time or place they are interested in! It’s also a great way to link writing with other subjects such as History!

[YouTube] => Qxm48Tug7_0 [Opens] => 2021-02-22 [Closes] => 2021-04-09 [Extended] => 1 [Orion ID] => 473 [RR Ontraport ID] => [DL Ontraport ID] => 390 [Post Class] => [Orion Teacher Year] => [How to Enter] => [Winners Subheading] => We're delighted to announce the winners... [Winners Intro] =>

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in A Wander In The Woods national creative writing competition.

We loved reading all of the entries we received.

[Winner Word] => [Thumbnail] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers-usa/contests/a-wander-in-the-woods/7662-thumbnail.jpg [Background] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers-usa/contests/a-wander-in-the-woods/6622-background.jpg [Logo] => https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bonacia-sites/young-writers-usa/contests/a-wander-in-the-woods/9093-logo.png [Independent Intro] =>

If you go down to the woods today...

Inspire your child to write a mini saga, a story told in 100 words, inspired by the theme of a wander in the woods. Fun and engaging, with story starters to help focus writing, you're sure to have your young writer motivated to write and enjoy creating their own short story.

Ideal for 6-12 year-olds.

[Independent Rules] =>

Only one entry per person.

Please include your child's name, age and full address on their entry.

The mini saga must be told in no more than 100 words (the title isn't included in this).

Independent entrants must have a USA address to enter. Overseas entrants must enter through their school.

Independent entries are still eligible for student prizes.

Story starters are optional but if used must be included in your child's word count.

The mini saga can be on the entry form or an A4 sheet of paper or typed.

Mini sagas must be your child's own work.

[Independent Prizes] =>

1st Prize
5 x creative writing goody bags awarded to our favorite published writers.

(Winners will be chosen from entries received in Feb-Mar 2021. Goody bag contents may differ from those in the photo.)

PLUS

Every entrant receives a bookmark.
A certificate of merit for all young writers chosen for publication!

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