Approach it like they’d be writing a movie for their mind’s eye. Let them think about how to describe elements of their daily life with emotion and as few words as possible.

If they learn how to put their dreams and hopes into words, it’ll also help their parent/child relationship with their parents.

You’re lucky, when my parents showed up at school it was for very different reasons.

What if you couldn’t tell a lie.. (Liar Liar) Pose a silly WHAT IF suitable for kids and they’re bound to jump on it.

But first – first! – we start with my favorite exercise – “THE STORY OF MY LIFE IN FIVE MINUTES”. The kids have to write as fast as they can, cram as many details in as they can, and to use their “storytelling voices” – so that I can hear them when I read their words. This exercise only works if you REALLY ham it up, but when you do, they get really into it and it’s loads of fun.

Mostly though, the goal is to get them past the “I got no ideas” phase and get them into the “I can’t write fast enough to get this stuff down” phase.

Anyway, I’ve got class plans if you want ‘em.

I get the kids to think of the “Dun-Dun-DUNNN!” moment in their story, and have them illustrate a cover for their story based on their moment. This teaches them the power of eliciting reader prediction in their stories, and using that moment to find the central climax of their tale as a means to start a process of working backwards from the climax to where the story begins.

As a modeling exercise, I’ll have the kids start with a piece of classroom literature like Charlotte’s Web. I’ll have them identify what the central conflict is (Wilbur finding out he’s inevitably going to be breakfast for the farmer and Charlotte’s attempts to save him), and have them doodle out a moment that demonstrates that conflict clearly. For instance, you could have Wilbur looking at the camera with a worried expression, the farmer walking away from the pen saying something about how he’s looking forward to eating the pig, and Charlotte descending from her web exclaiming “I won’t let that happen!”

It’s important to let the kids see you draw it on the board to emphasize the notion of “sloppy drawing” (an analog for “sloppy writing”). When you show that it’s not about drawing well but getting ideas on paper, it gives them another way to think about the process of writing with a visual metaphor.

It’s also a great way to break up a series of activities with something fun for them to do (what 3-5 grade student doesn’t like to draw?), while getting them to think deeply about their story structure and moment choices. You’re also teaching to different kinds of learners with this activity.

I’ve used this activity in many 5th grade classrooms, and have heard from the teachers that they continue to use it and find good results.

Hope this helps!