Activities

A Deconstructed Recount is a fast and engaging activity to improve your descriptive writing so that you show, rather than tell the reader what you did over the break. Here’s how…

First, brainstorm: Brainstorm things you saw, heard, tasted, smelt and felt during the holidays.

Then, ban the boring: Pick the most interesting example for each sense and use the template provided to write a paragraph about each one.

Finally, get artistic: Draw an image to accompany each paragraph.

Group Activity: Share your deconstructed recounts in groups. Can the group guess what each person did based on their descriptions.

Extension: Use the five paragraphs to construct a complete holiday recount. Think about which paragraphs would work well as a Sizzling Start and an Ending with Impact.

Ask yourself: How can I order the paragraphs to build momentum and interest in my recount?