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Writing Activity: defining character with non-standard English, with “My Country and the Way to America”, by Huong Nguyen, 11 (a harrowing tale)

Post Published May 17, 2016 by William Rubel

This is one of the most extraordinary stories Stone Soup has published in its long history. This activity focuses on how to effectively use non-standard English to define your character. "My Country and the Way to America" is a difficult story to read. It describes awful situations in which people die. The story is best read with an adult.

Art Activity: depicting people working, with ‘Harvesting Tea’ by Achinda Siriwardena, age 7

Post Published May 14, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Art Activity For the artist, every workplace is a separate world with its own unique environment of light, sound, smell, and activity, and each picture is a story in line, shape, and maybe color that tells about that special place.

Writing Activity: unexpected perspectives, or the other side of the story, with “Blending In” by Jonathan Rosenbaum, 10

Post Published May 14, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing Activity In "Blending In," by Jonathan Rosenbaum, Charlie is at camp where he is teased by Carl and Jeremy, as well as by other campers. Like most stories about teasing, "Blending In" is told from the perspective of the boy or girl who is teased. But what about Carl, Jeremy, and the others? What are they thinking and feeling?

Writing and Art Activity: illustrate your own story, with “The Adventures of Pumpkin and Seegartus” by Nicole Schmidt, 9

Post Published May 14, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing and Art Activity "The Adventures of Pumpkin and Seegartus" is about a friendship between two animals--a pony, Pumpkin, and a cat, Seegartus--both favorite pets of Mary. The author, Nicole Schmidt, begins her story with the birth of Pumpkin and his capture from a herd of semi-wild horses, and she ends it with an adventure that clearly establishes the depth of...

Writing Activity: reward a likeable character, with “Doll Shop Magic” by Joanna Calogero, 13

Post Published May 11, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing Activity This writing activity is based on a story by 13-year-old Joanna Calogero published in Stone Soup Magazine's September/October 1992 issue, and also included in the Stone Soup Book of Fantasy Stories anthology. Read the story, "Doll Shop Magic," on our website here.

Writing Activity: make a fictional creature seem real, with “The Baron, the Unicorn, and the Boy” by Ogechi Cynthia Njoku, 12

Post Published May 9, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing Activity Ogechi's story, The Baron, the Unicorn, and the Boy, is about an ordinary boy, Albert, and how he is rescued from the boredom of a school outing by a dream-like adventure in a fairy-tale past. Ogechi's writing is clear and forceful. Like all good fairy tales, her story can be read as a pleasant tale.

Cassandra Clare

Post Published May 7, 2016 by Stone Soup Editors

Website Wikipedia Facebook Twitter Books The Mortal Instruments (6 Books) Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (10 Book Series) Interviews

Time Is Short: a meditation on teaching art

Post Published April 30, 2016 by Amy Gibbs

Perhaps it's a vestige of the agricultural heritage here in the Grand Valley in western Colorado, but our school children are released for the summer in mid-May. Growing up in California, we went from Labor Day to Memorial Day, at least. Beginning of September to end of May, or early June. Here, it's been tradition to let them out in May to help on the farms and ranches.

How to Jump Start a Young Writer Who’s Running Into a Wall

Post Published March 22, 2016 by Erendira Ramirez-Ortega

I remember as a young writer in grammar school having to come up with my own ideas and topics to write about. In the 1980’s, this may have been a typical scenario, but as a homeschool mom, I am learning with my children that the ways of old, in this case, were not wise. Benjamin Franklin utilized the technique of imitation as a way to train himself to write.

Writing Process: How a Reluctant Reader Can Soar Now

Post Published March 22, 2016 by Erendira Ramirez-Ortega

I have a reluctant writer at home. My son, a fifth grader whom I homeschool, is very curious and very inquisitive in an understated way. When we take trips to the library, he immediately visits the animal books: dinosaurs, sharks, reptiles, all creatures that interest him most. Learning to appreciate reading, however, continues to be a battle.

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