Creative Writing Toolkit: Illustrated Story
Children often ask adults, “will you tell me a story?” Like all children’s literature, illustrated short stories began long before books were printed, as a part of the oral tradition when adults sang songs or recited narrative poems and tales, using many descriptions to help children visualize what they heard.
Illustrations help the youngest readers engage with stories and learn about the world into which they have been born. Illustrations help the narrative come alive, which keeps it in the child’s memory long after the story is finished.
The KET Young Writers Contest Creative Writing Toolkit: Illustrated Story (PDF) has been designed to help introduce and spark creative story writing within the Illustrated Story category.
Creative Writing Toolkit: Poetry
If you hear someone say they “don’t like poetry,” you might ask if they have read every type, which is unlikely because there are more than 50 kinds! Just as there are kinds of fiction a reader prefers, say, for example, traditional mystery novels instead of romance stories or experimental narratives, there is certainly at least one kind of poem that every reader will enjoy.
The KET Young Writers Contest Creative Writing Toolkit: Poetry (PDF) has been designed to introduce your students to poetry – both exploring and analyzing written works, as well as drafting their own original works.
Creative Writing Toolkit: Graphic Novels
With their imaginative storytelling, integrated illustrations and creative use of text, graphic novels have assumed a lasting place in the hearts of both children and adults alike. By designing their own graphic novels, students can hone their writing skills while expressing themselves through this creative medium. The KET Young Writers Contest Creative Writing Toolkit: Graphic Novels (PDF) offers a variety of activities to enable student success.
Creative Writing Toolkit: Short Story
A short story is a tale, sometimes based on something true but mostly fictional, that is shorter than a novel that can be hundreds of pages; a short story is usually only a few pages in length and, in the case of flash fiction (or short-short stories), a page or less. Though different in length, novels and short stories share many of the same characteristics—check out the visual glossary for some of the main components of fiction, including short stories.
The KET Young Writers Contest Creative Writing Toolkit: Short Story (PDF) has been designed to help introduce and spark creative story writing within the Short Story category.
Resources for Writers on PBS LearningMedia
Free resources to instruct and inspire students in grades K-12. Grade levels are listed on each resource.
Additional Resources
On the Same Page Virtual Visits
Hear about process straight from professional poets, graphic novelists, authors and visual artists.
