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Writing Activity: make the feeling of competitive sport come alive

Post Published May 20, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing Activity This activity is built around a story by 11-year-old Ted Nelson, "A Definition of Happiness," published in Stone Soup in September/October 1985. Winning a medal in a sporting event requires physical strength. It also requires concentration. In "A Definition of Happiness," Ted concentrates on winning. Win, win, win, he thinks with each stroke.

Writing Activity: writing a duet with “What Will Happen to These Woods” by Vanessa E. Beach, 11

Post Published May 20, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing Activity This is a story about an afternoon when two people go to the same place, the woods, and do different things—a girl plays while her father paints. They are together, but they are not working, doing, or thinking the same things. This is also a story about a place.

Writing Activity: using a natural process to structure a short short story with “The Fire” by Campe Goodman, 12

Post Published May 20, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing Activity This is a short short story about someone who lights a fire in a fireplace, watches it burn for a while, letting his imagination wander along with the flames, and then, bored, goes away from the fire to do something else. The character finally returns to the fireplace, but only after the fire is out.

Writing Activity: personal integrity and family history with “Homemade Crop Duster” by Vivek Maru, 10

Post Published May 20, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing Activity This story by Vivek Maru is a moral tale. It is about personal integrity and the "right" way to live. "Homemade Crop Duster" may be a "true life" story or it may be "made up." Most probably, like many good stories, it is a mixture of both. Stories that have a moral often read more like lectures than works of fiction.

Writing Activity: exploring multi-layered meaning and limits with “The Captive” by Nicholaus Curby, 12

Post Published May 20, 2016 by William Rubel

This writing project explores the idea of captivity in many forms helping young authors think about different ways characters might not be free to do as they like. Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing Activity In this story by Nicholaus Curby, the eagle, locked in its cage, is obviously a captive. The eagle is a captive in the same way a person in prison is a captive.

Writing Activity: biography, war, and the power of what is not said, with “My Story” by Yuthilcar Sokban, 12

Post Published May 20, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing Activity Yuthilkar Sokban's story, simply titled "My Story," is about war. It starts in 1975, the year Yuthilkar was born and the year a group of people, the Khmer Rouge, led by a man named Pol Pot, came to power in Yuthikar's country, Cambodia.

Art Activity: Making pictures of your community, with ‘Local Houses’, by Khaled Abdulaziz Ateeg, 12

Post Published May 17, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Art Activity This photograph is of Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. The buildings are made of brick or mud brick with white decorations made of white paint. This architecture is similar to that depicted in the painting of Al Aflaj, Saudi Arabia made by Khaled Abdulaziz Ateeg, 12. Khaled's painting was made in the 1970s.

Writing Activity: 4 projects to bring your (animal) characters to life

Post Published May 17, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing Activity These writing activities are built around the story "Lone Wolf," published in the January/February 1985 issue of Stone Soup. What is exceptional about this story of a lost wolf cub is that the characters seem so real.

Art Activity: expressing and recording feelings, with ‘Spring’, by Myra Nicolaou, 8

Post Published May 17, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Art Activity In a way, the new year really starts with spring. Spring is the time for planting the garden and cleaning house. It is the time when trees get new leaves and when you can play outdoors well into the evening. It is the season when cycles begin again.

Writing Activity: writing sequels, and increasing contrast, with “A Ride With Fate” by Robert Katzman, 12

Post Published May 17, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Writing Activity “A Ride With Fate” is an emotionally powerful story about a boy who makes a couple of wrong decisions. The mistakes he makes lead to an accident in which he and someone he cares about are physically hurt, and an elderly man, a friend of Billy's, is made very sad. Project 1: Write a Sequel I care about Billy, and I care about Mr. Reed.

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