This year we are trying something new for our homeschool writing. We are actually following a more formal curriculum. That curriculum required us to look for inspiration at my favorite place.
The library!
Okay, it’s one of my favorite places. Our entire family is writing a magazine this year. In all reality I think we’ll be taking two years to write our magazines, but in theory Cover Story is a one year curriculum.
Finding writing inspiration at the library
First we needed to find out what type of magazine appealed to us. While I have a few sewing magazines at our house, none of those are going to provide great inspiration to the kids. So we trooped down to the library and spent a good hour reading magazines and observing them.
We noticed a few things as we did.
- Bright colorful magazines appealed to us
- The kids liked ones with cartoon covers
- I liked ones with extreme close-ups of images
- I liked articles that gave specific information, not inspirational articles.
- The kids like articles that were funny.
First assignment completed we headed home to start our writing.
Only to come back for more writing inspiration at the library
This time we came to find headlines. To study how they are crafted and to find inspiration for a poem.
Batman’s inspirational title: Unknown person jumped off a building (I’m pretty sure Jeff gave him this title)
Dwarf
Help I am falling
off my gryphhon
I’m falling
falling
falling
falling
splat
Okay, it’s not high epic poetry, but for a boy who hates poetry, it’s rather amusing.
There’s something about sitting in the library surrounded by all those books. Hearing their voices whisper to you of promised adventures. It gives me ideas of what to write and how to teach, and where to go. And of course, it’s National Novel Writing Month, so it’s a good month to look for inspiration.
Curious about more things to do at the library besides read books?
And if you’re looking for more writing ideas, I highly recommend checking out my writing board.
What a fun idea to write a magazine. I enjoyed reading Batman’s poem!
I am in love with this curriculum, it is building perfectly off what we’ve been doing earlier. The high school curriculum has them writing a book!
What a great writing activity!
Thanks! I think this curriculum is really challenging the kids.
We bought this curriculum at a lot of expense in terms of postage to the UK. It was brilliant but we never finished it, and I think that is because I never created a magazine out of their writing. Good for you for doing it properly 🙂
I think I vaguely remember you doing it earlier.
I have no idea how I’m going to make all of their writing into a magazine, but we’re having fun with it.
I somehow missed this post. What a great idea!!
Thanks! We are really enjoying this curriculum.