It demonstrates how an individual learner might use the collective ideas of the class as a writing stimulus. It also shows how a visual text can be an aid to creative writing. And further, it demonstrates the method of providing learners with a writing model on which they can base their own writing. If the room is very small or if there are many learners, the pictures could perhaps be displayed outside the classroom , in a passage or against an outside wall. Learners will be moving around for some of the time, and then working at a work surface where the picture can be seen and the contents of the envelope shared.
Some learners can use a floor space, if necessary.
Resources A set of pictures that will stimulate creative writing. Each picture should be mounted onto card, with an envelope taped to the back of the card so that the open part of the envelope hangs below the card and is accessible for learners to insert words on slips of paper. A pile of small slips of paper on each working surface An OHP or photocopies of the shape poem examples. Ask learners to each take some slips of paper from the pile on their work surface, a pencil, and a book to press against as they will be writing while standing. For each picture they should write at least one good descriptive word or phrase that would enrich a piece of writing about this picture.