Review: Shape Writing on Teachers Pay Teachers

The Shape Writing creative writing practice booklet is a free download available on Teachers Pay Teachers. The writing activity presents a visually interesting method of creative writing called Shape Writing, which uses words to form the outline of basic shapes. The download includes guided instructions, helpful suggestions, and nine pattern templates with suggestions of where to find others. The activity can be tailored to different writing levels, and the results are an interesting combination of visual and written creativity. This activity is targeted to students in first through fifth grades, though it could be broadened to apply to older writers as well.

The interesting visual aspect of this type of creative writing is a big draw to students who might be uninspired by generic writing assignments. The workbook does an excellent job of explaining the concepts and illustrating the instructions to make it easy for teachers to understand and then demonstrate to their students. The instructions also include helpful tips and pointers for teachers who aren’t familiar with this activity, with some excellent guidance for having students create drawings to go with their outlines.

When executing this activity to its fullest extent, students will have the opportunity to practice cutting with scissors, create and write an interesting story with a specific length dictated by the shape they are “writing," and then draw with colored pencils and markers. The assignment covers a wide variety of tasks to keep students engaged and learning with every step. The unusual method of multi-directional writing can be exciting, especially for students who are accustomed to lined paragraphs that set their writing apart from any illustrations.

This is a really neat activity that can add a new aspect to traditional writing assignments. There are applications for this type of assignment that could be relevant throughout the school year, and the activity is interesting enough but basic enough to appeal to writers in a wide range of ages and skill levels.

You can download your own copy of Shape Writing here.

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