Close your eyes and picture a time where you decided to tell the truth to someone. What were you wearing? How did you feel? Such prompts begin a guided imagery activity for Zach's Lie. Directions for creating an environment conducive to relaxation and visualization are followed by a list of questions designed to lead learners through a visualization exercise. They  visualize an experience in order to improve their imagery in descriptive writing. Writers make their memories come to life through this well-written exercise. 

Concepts

descriptive writing, imagery, prewriting

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Content lends itself to a discussion about mindfulness; while writers brainstorm ideas through meditation-like settings, they also use such settings to lessen anxiety and stress
• Use a model description to set expectations before activity

Classroom Considerations

• Plans indicate there is no assessment, but if you want to check understanding, collect the descriptive paragraphs to see if individuals mastered the CCSS 

Pros

• Visualization activity gives learners time to think creatively and about their topics
• Guided questions for activity are all-inclusive

Cons

• Lesson wants educators to play music while students engage in visualizing activity; this may be distracting for certain individuals

Common Core

W.6.3.b W.7.3.b W.8.3.b