The Write Game: Level Up Student Creativity with Fun and Play

Hey there, fellow word nerds and educators! Welcome to “The Write Game,” where I’m about leveling student creativity through fun and play. If you’ve ever felt like your students were stuck in a creative rut or struggled to engage them in the writing process, you’ve come to the right place. I’m here to help you transform your classroom into a hotbed of creativity, all through the power of games!

I know that teaching creative writing can be a challenge. I’ve spent over twenty years feeling like I’m pulling teeth. Keeping students interested and motivated is challenging, especially when faced with blank pages and intimidating writing prompts. But that’s where games come in. By incorporating games into your lesson plans, you can create a more dynamic, engaging, and interactive learning environment that encourages students to embrace their creative sides.

So, let’s dive into some game-based strategies to help your students level up their writing skills.

5 Best Games to Level Up Student Writing

Writing Game 1: Storytelling Showdown

Divide your students into small groups and give them random story elements (e.g., characters, settings, and objects). Challenge each group to weave these elements into a coherent and entertaining story. You can turn this into a friendly competition by having each group present their story to the class and allowing everyone to vote for their favorite.

Writing Game 2: Literary Mad Libs

Take a well-known passage from a book, poem, or play and remove keywords or phrases, leaving blanks in their place. Then, have your students fill in the blanks with their creative choices, individually or in pairs. This not only sparks their imagination but also helps them understand the importance of word choice and how it can change the tone and meaning of a text.

Writing Game 3: Character Charades

Ask your students to choose a character from a book they’ve read, a movie they’ve seen, or even one they’ve created themselves. Then, have them act out their chosen character without using words while their classmates try to guess the character’s identity. This activity encourages students to consider memorable characters’ defining traits and characteristics.

Writing Game 4: Setting Switcheroo

Challenge your students to reimagine a familiar story by changing its setting. What if Romeo and Juliet took place in outer space? Or if Harry Potter was set in the Wild West? Have students discuss how the new setting would affect the plot and characters, and then write a short scene incorporating the revised backdrop.

If you’d like a pre-made lesson that covers this idea, check out my “How Setting Affects Plot” lesson on TPT.

Writing Game 5: Collaborative Chain Writing

Start a story by writing a sentence or two on the board. Then, have each student add one sentence to continue the story. This activity encourages students to think on their feet and adapt to the twists and turns of a developing plot while practicing narrative structure and cohesion.

Writing Game + 1: My Pre-Made Games

Now for a selfish plug. Check out my product if you’d like several printable games already made for you and your students. It includes seven different games focusing on different areas of creative writing. Click here if you’d like a copy of “The Write Games.”

Final Thoughts

By incorporating these game-based activities into your creative writing lessons, you’ll make the learning process more enjoyable for your students and help them develop essential writing skills in a fun and engaging way. So bring some playtime to your classroom, and watch your students’ creativity soar!