Teaching Children Archives

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Memory/Self as Character

Post Published February 9, 2024 by Laura Moran

This piece of writing is designed to prompt students to practice the writing fundamental to "show and not tell." We all love a good character—someone who is complex yet relatable, full of all the...
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Weekly Writing Workshop #4, Friday April 24, 2020: Trapped!

Post Published April 29, 2020 by Stone Soup Editors

An update from our fourth weekly writing workshop A summary of this week's project, plus some of the output published below The Stone Soup Weekly Writing Workshop is open to all Stone Soup contr...
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Writing Activity: Using Framing to Add Depth and Power

Post Published October 18, 2019 by William Rubel

Emma McKinny's story "Windsong," is about going to a performance of Dr. Atomic, an opera by John Adams with libretto by Peter Sellers. Her father is the lead singer.
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Writing Activity: Using the power of “show, don’t tell”

Post Published May 25, 2019 by Jane Levi

Writers often hear the advice: “show, don’t tell.” But what does it mean? Read and study a story from the Stone Soup archives to see the power of this technique, and then try it for yourself.
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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.
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Writing Activity: developing character and perspective with character sketches

Post Published November 18, 2016 by William Rubel

This writing activity is built around 11-year-old Ella Staats' story, "My Mother's Little Girl'" published in Stone Soup in September/October 2012. Read the story and then work on your project, which ...
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Gifted Soup Ingredients from A-Z: Asynchrony

Post Published November 3, 2016 by Amy Barnes

Gifted Soup Ingredients from A-Z: Asynchrony "Discover your difference – the asynchrony with which you have been blessed or cursed and make the most of it. -Howard E.
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Art and Writing Activity: making a picture book with “When Smudgie Got Lost” by Karine Faden, 10

Post Published August 3, 2016 by William Rubel

Introduction to this Stone Soup Art and Writing Activity Many of the stories we print in Stone Soup are both written and illustrated by the author. Many authors illustrate their own stories—especial...
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Flying under the radar

Post Published July 21, 2016 by Amy Gibbs

When you want to get something done, is it better to just keep your head down and go a little underground, or is it better to make some noise and get all that attention and potential support?
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Complex relationships and why expectations matter

Post Published May 27, 2016 by Gerry Mandel

It’s a funny thing. If your friends, parents, and teachers expect you to accomplish something great, you very likely will. Not only do you want to please the people you care about, but their support...
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