Writers' Cup

This week teachers will be looking for good pieces of writing in English Lessons for a for a “Writers Cup” winner.

The winning pupil in either Key Stage One or Key Stage Two keeps the cup for a week at home.

To wet appetites here are two extracts from classroom writing by Y6 pupils in the first week back as they were trying to use similes. Look for where the pupils say something is “like” something else. That is a simile.

“The Old House” by Kathryn Taylor 6C

Slowly the old rusty door creaked open. I nervously peered round - looking for someone. Nobody came. Cobwebs hung from old fashioned lights like curtains that have gone grey through age.

I carefully put my feet on a pink grey carpet. Dust flew in front of my face like fairies dancing in the air.

Cautiously I crept to the door in front of me. I gently pushed it open. It led to the kitchen. The windows were  covered with a thick blanket of ivy. The back door was hanging off its hinges. The chequered flooring was covered in dust and the sink green with moss.

The smell hit my nose like a cat clawing your knee. It smelt of cheese. Old smelly cheese.

A door on my right was wide open. I walked over to it and peered in  and . . . . . .

Kathryn leaves the reader in limbo here. What might happen beyond the pen door?!

“The Cave” by Rebecca Haldron, 6C

As I walked into the cave the darkness filled the air like a sheet of lightening. All I could see was green on the walls.

The air smelt wet and damp like rotting fish.

Then I got scared and went on holding the walls like a baby. By my side went a trickle of water and I panicked. 

Similes are easier than metaphors which is their next learning curve in Y6!

CHESLYN HAY PUPIL CHALLENGE!

Prize open to all current school pupils who can write a story surrounding these pictures

The pictures of this deserted place are real.

The winning story will be sent to someone connected with this place.

As well as the winner receiving a £50 prize .

It is all a bit secretive and probably shouldn’t be on the school website

Storm clouds gather. Everything is boarded up. Only a palm tree grows outside this “Ranch Style” place.

Before you start writing your story think though these ideas:

Where do you think it is ?
What caused the people who lived here to leave?
What is the story behind everyone leaving?
Where are they now?
Will they ever be allowed to come back?
And why is it still shut down?

I can tell you it is still shut down for a very good reason.
This is a real place and more photos of it are to follow.

What was this tower used for?

Another  view.

Where could this place be?
What happened in these buildings ?
What drove them out?

Weeds grow at the back as no one has come back.

Everything is boarded up.

What dark secrets does this place keep to itself?

Now you have a story to write.

You can use these pictures and add any of your own or from the internet

However, winning story will be based on writing and not the pictures included.

All entries by end of November.

Try and use a few similes !

You can use these pictures in your writing

Martin Tibbetts
Sunday, 10 September 2006