Ideas for Giraffe Writing

Describe what happened
Tell a story without using the word giraffe - until the very end
Imagine why they are doing this - do the humans know?
Write it like a news story


Read through the ideas below to help you with your planning then start your draft.

Remember to write on every second line in your books.

Giraffe Divers

Shiny tiles

Flying

Long legs

Legs get tucked in while swimming twirling around and around drinking water one by one

gliding

Twirling

rhythm

splash from the giraffe

talented flips.

clop, somersault, hanging, flip, ears twitching

Tiptop, tiptoe, drinking ,giraffe hanging

Arched back

synchronized

Clip Clop, Twitching Ears, Ripples in the Water, SPLASH!, Head and Legs tucked in, They heard the Humans

Ears twitching

Flipping

patterns in the water patterns on their backs

Echoes bounce off the walls

Ears twitching tails swaying back and forth

splash, click clock click clock, galloping, diving

Long spiralled staircase, ripples , splashes, elegant summersaults, clip clopping sounds .

spiral walkway

echo sounds in the pool

shiny tiles 1,2,3,4,5,6 the giraffes sneak into the pool for a while they dive then they drink from the pool they look up they run!

Sound of giraffe galloping. Eyes blinking in silence. The loop the loop.Legs tucked in while swimming. Running up and jumping into the the pool. Going up the spiral stairs

Running

There are 12 giraffes. Sounds full of their foot steps.

happy ,excited, scared, nervous, smart

Swimming, Flying and Glitching ears.

gallop, splash, tails swishing, still water, bubble from bubbles

Splashing echo clop clop clop

Movment Flips,jumps,loop-the-loop, and ,tails wagging like crazy!!!!!!!! waiting patiently for their turn standing still as a statue then running at full speed focused on the spot that they must catch to make their flip diving straight down deep into the pool accurate focused

Short Film

Respond to this short film 

  

Describe what happens and what you notice in your own words.

VIDEO LINK - CLICK to WATCH

Back legs apart and front legs slightly arched, a group of giraffes take turns diving into an Olympic-sized swimming pool. 

PROMPTS

Think of an interesting Title for your story - write some notes as soon as you have watched the film.

What - is happening?

When -  does this take place?

How - did the giraffes get into the pool?

Why - do they do this?

Who - knows about this? who let them in?

Describe - show not tell this short story like you have been hiding somewhere under a seat or around a corner so that the giraffes can't see you.

Describe: sounds, movement, body positions, texture, size, number, feelings and thoughts

• Write a news report of the event. 
• Describe the giraffe in detail. 
• Use show not tell throughout describing all that happens as if it is a human and then reveal at the end that it is in fact a giraffe. 
• Write through the eyes of the giraffe - imagine the thoughts in the giraffe's head

Exaggeration and Hyperbole!

Your Newspaper editor has asked you to cover one of the news stories below.  To make it a bit more interesting you have decided to exaggerate the facts to keep your readers interested.

Use one of the images below to start you off on a brilliant short story. Limit 200 words plus a picture.

Explain to us what happens next...

Describe what caused this to happen...

Write it like a funny news story...

Think of a NEWS HEADLINE (title) to grab the reader's attention!

Remember to plan out some ideas first including some good describing words to go with your story.

Things to describe:  colour, shape, size, smell, sound, touch feel texture, movement, who, what, where, when, why, how

Below are some ideas to get you thinking.

 How did all these bananas get here?  Was it a minion banana robbery?

 Who lives here? Describe the house.  Does it smell.  Maybe Jack lives here... Jack who?

 New transport solution for busy city streets... leave the car at home and take the... instead!

 Giant eggs?  A sign that aliens have landed?  

Or is it the biggest chicken you have ever see!  DON'T LOOK UP! splat!

Why is the shark trying to attack the man on the ladder? 

No fish left in the sea!  Sharks now desperate for food!

Giant egg discovered in the Ilam school playground.  

What happens next?

Show Don't Tell

To find your voice as a writer you need to learn the difference between 
SHOWING and TELLING the story to the reader 
so that they can create a picture in their mind.

Once you understand this idea you will be able to build amazing pieces of writing in your own way.

Take a look at these examples:

Monday Writing

Describe a moment in slowmotion 
Think of a memory (good or bad) and slow it down in your mind so that you can describe it in detail.

Consider:  thoughts, feelings. the anticipation, the sound, what you see

Here are a few video clips to get you thinking.
You could use one of them as the basis for your writing.
Look really carefully at what happens in each video.  What things do you notice that you eye does not normally see?