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Writing Activity: inspiration from science-based common expressions

Post Published June 19, 2019 by Stone Soup Editors

There are a lot of science-based ideas expressed in everyday speech. This activity challenges you to identify some of those expressions, think about what they mean, research them to find out the science behind them, and then write about some characters experiencing those phenomena or expressing the emotions they describe.

Writing Activity: working with dialogue

Post Published October 4, 2018 by Stone Soup Editors

This activity is built around a story by 11-year-old Lena Boesser-Koschmann, first published in the November/December 1992 issue of Stone Soup, and more recently in the Stone Soup Book of Animal Stories. "The Bear" is a great story on many levels. For the purposes of this activity, we focus on its powerful use of dialogue to unfold events, reveal character, and express feelings.

Juvenilia: an introduction via Jane Austen, the Brontës and others

Post Published September 28, 2018 by Stone Soup Editors

Juvenilia is the name given to creative work produced by recognized authors and artists when they were children and young adults. The late eighteenth and early nineteenth century was a fruitful time for juvenilia, especially that of writers. Jane Austen, the Brontë family, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, amongst others, among others, wrote extensively when they were young.

Writing and art activity: using Ballet as inspiration for creative writing and art

Post Published September 21, 2018 by Stone Soup Editors

Ballet is an art in which adults partake in a fantasy world that is more often associated with children's stories. Nobody speaks in a ballet–the classic story ballets are performed silently–although there is a sign language that one starts to recognize after watching several ballets.

Writing Activity: Stories about trust, truth and lying

Post Published August 5, 2017 by William Rubel

This writing activity is based on two stories published in the May/June 1994 issue of Stone Soup: "The Mother's Day Gift" by Mathew Thompson, 11, and "The Clay Pot" by Naomi Wendland, 12. Follow the links to open the stories in a new window, and read both of them carefully as part of the activity. These two stories deal with the same problem: the temptation to lie to hide a mistake.

Writing Activity: plot a story on a graph with the brilliant, funny “Shapes of Stories” talk by Kurt Vonnegut

Post Published July 1, 2017 by William Rubel

This writing activity is based on a very funny Kurt Vonnegut lecture on the shape of stories. In this project, students learn to develop compelling narratives by graphing the plots. American author Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007) is best known for his book Slaughterhouse-Five (1969).

Writing Activity: novels in the form of letters, inspired by Jane Austen’s childhood writing

Post Published October 7, 2016 by William Rubel

Jane Austen (1775-1817) is one of the the greatest novelists to have written in English. Her novels are still widely read and have been adapted into movies and television series. Jane Austen began writing as a child, and now, finally, some of these childhood writings have been adapted into movies.

Stone Soup Writer Interview: Isabel Folger, 12

Post Published August 26, 2016 by William Rubel

https://youtu.be/LTmdS2WFD4Q Stone Soup author Isabel Folger, 12, talks about how she lets a story gestate in her mind for a couple of weeks before she starts writing. Isabel had four stories published in Stone Soup: “A Fortunate Soul” (January/February 2013), “A Special Present” (November/December 2013), “Hope" (January/February 2014), and “Believing” (July/August 2014).

Writing Activity: Bringing dreams to life with “Princess and the Island Stallion” by Christina Lynn Myers, 11

Post Published August 3, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing and Art Activity An island of one’s own… fields and forests and streams… a well-stocked kitchen with stove and refrigerator… riding bareback on a stallion, powerful yet gentle leader of a band of horses… and best of all, three months alone during a beautiful summer to enjoy it all.

Writing Activity: powerful expression through unique style, with “We Are Looking for Freedom” by Marigian Muhammed, 12

Post Published August 2, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to This Stone Soup Writing Activity "We Are Looking for Freedom" was written by Marigian one-and-a half-years after she arrived in the United States. It is a true story about the recent history of her family. At the time Marigian wrote this story she was still learning English. We have printed it just as she wrote it, so you will find the English is not perfect.

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