LESSON 2.5
Brainstorm the Problem
Grades 1-3
A basic mistake lots of beginning writers make is that they start writing without a plan. Would you start building a house without blueprints? Or play a basketball game without a game plan?
Begin with the Troublemaker
We will talk about brainstorming in the next chapter. For now, use a talking dog, or use one of the story starters from the previous chapter.
Enter the information into your chart.
Enter the information into your chart. If you haven’t already.
| LH | VP | RH |
|---|---|---|
| Hero | Verb Phrase | A troublemaker |
| I | had a problem with | a talking dog. |
Brainstorm the Problem the Troublemaker Causes
What kind of crazy messes can this troublemaker make? For example, the talking dog, what kind of troubles could that lead to?
Task 2.5.1 – Small Groups
We’re going to play a brainstorming game. Your teacher will put you in teams. In three minutes, each team will come up with as many ideas as possible. The more ideas, the merrier, even silly ones are welcome.
You should be able to brainstorm about 8 ideas per minute.
The team with the most, not the best, ideas at the end wins. Each team must have at least 15 ideas, and everyone needs to jump in with at least two ideas.
Task 2.5.2 – Small Groups
- Delete any ideas that do not “fit” the troublemaker. For example, if the troublemaker is a talking dog, the “peed on the carpet” doesn’t fit.
- Delete any ideas that are automatically true. For example, “He caused a lot of trouble” does not tell us what the dog did.
Example
- because it told my mom my secrets.
- because it would not stop talking.
- because it made prank phone calls.
- because it spoke Athabascan, and I’m the only person in the village who can.
- because it made prank phone calls in Athabascan.
- because it kept embarrassing me.
- because it kept winning oratory contests.
- because it told batters my Native-baseball pitching secrets.
- because my other dogs were jealous.