Scribble Sparks
What are Scribble Sparks?
Scribble sparks foster shared classroom experiences designed to kindle student writing.
Different than traditional writing prompts, scribble sparks can come from a variety of genres and forms, meant to lead to open-ended, low-stakes, free writing. After writers share a scribble spark, they respond in whatever way feels best to them. There is not “wrong” way to write a scribble. In fact, it is the diversity of directions writers can take that make a strong scribble spark. One student may draw a picture, another write about a memory from their childhood, and another write a poem about zombies. Scribbles allow students and teachers to explore our voices, preferences, and identities as writers, while building a community of writers. Teachers should write while the students are writing.
If you are interested in reading more about scribbles, please read Joseph Wiederhold (CUWP ’12) and Debbie Dean’s (CUWP ’09) article, “Scribbling: Making Time for What Matters,” published in the Utah English Journal in 2020.
Below, you will find links and descriptions of how to use a range of scribble sparks as writing starters for your classroom. Many of the sparks shared on this page were compiled from CUWP Fellows by Melissa Heaton (CUWP ’10), and this page will continue to be updated by CUWP Fellows, so keep checking back for more!
Images and Graphics
See here.
Summary: Comic/cartoon showing the points of view of two lost souls, one marooned on a deserted island, the other lost at sea, at the moment they see each other.
Considerations: This is a good Scribble to use once students have experience with Scribbles. Plan on giving students at least a minute to just look at the cartoon, think about it, and notice things before they start writing.
Presentation: This picture doesn’t need much introduction. Just show the cartoon and let students write. When students are finished, let them share.
See here.
Summary: Multiple layered image of skater trying to land an epic jump. It focuses on his learning failures and finally victory.
Considerations: Plan on giving students 30-60 seconds to simply experience the photo before they write. This is best used when students are familiar with Scribble writing.
Presentation: The text itself can be used two ways, have students list what they notice in/about the photograph first. Do not discuss observations as a class at this time. Let this be a private exercise in thinking. After a minute or two of observation, students write. Another option is to show the picture to students, step back, and just let them go.
Non Fiction
Summary: This humorous memoir is filled with delicious tales of candy and desserts. Each chapter is devoted to different sugar obsessions and the author’s memories that surround the yummy treats.
Considerations: This is a great book to share at the beginning of the school year when trying to establish a writing and sharing environment. The chapters are short and take five minutes or less to read out loud. A good chapter to start with is Ice Cream on page 18. Some of the other chapters might need to be shortened or edited depending upon time and the age and maturity of students.
Presentation: Read a chapter from the book and get students to talk a little bit about what they thought of. Then, let students write about whatever came to mind. Since most students have memories of desserts and candy, they won’t need much help to get writing and sharing.
Picture Books
See here.
Summary: A minimalistic children’s book that tells the story of a seemingly ordinary rock—but to the animals that use it, it is a resting place, a kitchen, a safe haven…even an entire world. This is a gorgeous exploration of perspective, perception, and the passage of time.
Considerations: This text is better to use after students are comfortable using more abstract prompts to spark their writing.
How to Use: Read the story. Discuss potential topics to write about. Brainstorm different parts of the story that could be used as sparks. Then, give time to write.
See here.
Summary: After the Fall is a children’s book that cleverly expands on the nursery rhyme “Humpty Dumpty.” It details the aftermath of Humpty Dumpty’s infamous fall and the transformation he experiences through his recovery.
Considerations: This book works well in the middle or end of the year when students are accustomed to writing and sharing. The book will take less than 5 minutes to read.
Presentation: Read the book being sure to show students the illustrations; then ask students what topics they could write about. There is no right or wrong answer. Then, let them write. If presented later in the school year, students generally don’t have any trouble coming up with topics to write about. Many students will write a narrative about a nursery rhyme or fairytale. Others will write about a more personal experience. This prompt affords for a large variety in the types of responses students compose. After they write, let students share.
Details coming soon!
By Michael Hall
See here.
Summary: This descriptive book shows how a square changes into new object everyday as it is poked full of holes, cut into ribbons, or ripped into strips. Day after day, the square reinvents itself, from simple and perfect to complex and perfect . . . and always happy
Considerations: This book takes less than 5 minutes to read. It has a variety of objects and colors that may be helpful in getting students to write. It is a little more abstract and may be best with students who are familiar with scribbles.
Presentation: Read the story. Discuss potential topics to write about. Spend time writing.
Details coming soon!
Poems
See here.
Summary: In the grand tradition of “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens” comes an uplifting tribute to 100 everyday things worth celebrating. The list, in rhyming couplets, draws directly from a preschooler’s world—from slippery floors to dinosaurs, from goldfish to a birthday wish.
Considerations: This book works well any time of the school year. If read quickly, it will take about 5 minutes. Or, consider just sharing some of the pages if time is an issue. It’s a good idea to practice beforehand, so it doesn’t take long to read. There is also a poster included in the book that could be shared.
Presentation: Read the entire book aloud. Then, let the students write. Since the book is a list, students will have a tendency to write lists. If shared after students are familiar with Scribble writing, they will focus more on one of the topics in the list. Give students an opportunity to share their writing with the class.
See here.
Summary: This is spoken word poetry about the value in different stories.
Considerations: It might be best for an older audience. I like to play the video for my students while also having a pdf of the text that they can look over while they write. It would be nice to have it printed for them to read along as they watch. He also says “this is for the fat girls” in the first line and that is a conversation I had with my 7th graders before we would watch. That we often think of “fat” as a bad word, and he is using it differently here. I also use this prompt later in the year when I know my students better.
Presentation: Show the video. Discuss some of their favorite lines and images. Then write!
Short Fiction
See here.
Summary: “Amelia’s Notebook” is the first in a series of many journals written by fictional Amelia. Amelia shares her thoughts about school, family, friends, etc. In addition to traditional journal writing, Amelia includes notes in the margins, fun charts, doodles, and diagrams to illustrate her life.
Considerations: This is a good book to share at the beginning of the school year. The book is too long to share for one Scribble. It’s best to share on or two excerpts. A good one to start with is “10 School Year Resolutions” from Amelia’s School Survival Guide.
Presentation: Read an excerpt from the book. Students will usually point out the doodles and notice Amelia’s distinctive, casual voice. After a quick discussion about the book, let students write. During the first few weeks of school, students are just feeling out what is “okay” during Scribble time. Try to celebrate student’s writing so they know it’s okay for their writing to be different than the person next to them.
Summary: This creepy anthology by young adult authors will create instant fear in just seconds. The short stories are cleverly written and can make anyone’s imagination go wild.
Considerations: These simple stories take a minute or less to read out loud and are good to use at the start of the school year. The short story Skittering by TUI T. Sutherland on page 80 is an easy entry point for students because most students have a bug story, although they are not limited to this subject. These prompts can also be fun to use are Halloween.
Presentation: After reading—in order to help reluctant writers—encourage students to share stories informally and orally before starting writing. Don’t control the writing process or force pre-writing strategies. Students will organically return to strategies that have worked for them. It takes some time to help students transition from past years of “journal writing” to the more open-ended scribble time.
Songs
Watch here.
Summary: In this music video, Miranda Lambert sings of her childhood home and the memories that made her who she is today.
Considerations: This is a good prompt to share at the beginning of the school year since it allows students and teachers to get to know each other, and many people have memories of special places or homes that have influenced them. The 4 minute music video is found on Youtube.
Presentation: Introduce “The House that Built Me” by asking students about their favorite places. After a quick discussion, show the video and let students write about whatever comes to mind. Many students have memories of special places or homes that have influenced them, so students have no problems with sharing.
Details coming soon!
Videos
Watch here.
Summary: A Cloudy Lesson is a whimsical short film found about a mentor trying to teach his protege how to make clouds. In a twist, the student becomes the teacher.
Considerations: This film is two minutes long and can be found on YouTube. It would be best to use this video after an environment of writing and sharing has been established.
Presentation: Watch the film; then, ask students what topics they could write about. There is no right or wrong answer to topics. The key is to get them thinking and writing. Then, let them write.
Watch here.
Summary: This is an animated short film written and narrated by Kobe Bryant about his experience loving and leaving basketball. It is a beautiful and tender tribute to the sport he loves.
Considerations: the full short can be found on Youtube. It is about 5 minutes long. This resonates a lot with students who have things they are passionate about. It can be used around valentines day as a type of “love letter.”
Presentation: Watch the film; then, ask students what topics they could write about. It may also be helpful to talk about different forms they could respond with. I have had students write their letters on paper hearts and then posted them around my room to decorate for valentines day.
Watch here.
Summary: Piper is a short, animated film about a small bird trying to work up the courage to hunt in the ocean. Their creative problem solving and determination lead them to success.
Considerations: The full short can be found on Youtube. It is about 4 minutes long. This prompt works really well with younger students.
Presentation: Watch the film; then, ask students what topics they could write about. There is no right or wrong answer to topics. Then, let them write.
Summary: This popular segment from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is all about thanking the trivial, mundane, underappreciated, and weird things in our lives and in current events. Jimmy Fallon writes about 5-10 genre-bending thank you notes in each segment, so students get to see lots of examples in just a few minutes. Sometimes the thanks are more sarcastic than sincere, but they’re always hilarious.
Considerations: This would be a great Scribble to use leading up to Thanksgiving. The videos are found on YouTube and might need to be shortened or edited depending on the audience. These videos are best for secondary students because of the content.
Presentation: After we watch the clip talk about what students noticed. Then, have students write. Students can share with partners or invite students to share with the class. A lot of students will share a thought, joke, or sentiment that many students in the class can relate to. It’s fun to watch students nod or laugh in response to these Scribbles.