Mayflower 400: Learning the Land

Creative Writing Exercises and Picture Pack

This year’s contribution to the Mayflower 2020 project, Learning the Land, will be centred around nature, craft and making a home. The book will be an anthology of creative writing pieces by children aged 8-12 from schools around the city.

Before the tasks begin, it is advisable that the children are shown the first book and second books in the series: Mayflower: The Journey Begins and Mayflower: Beyond the Horizon.

Submissions should focus on the natural world, in both UK and US Plymouth, exploring how passengers and Native Americans would have used craft and how they built homes. The depictions may be imagined or based on real people. The children’s writing does not need to relate directly to the Mayflower and we would encourage the children to use their imagination.

This picture pack contains a variety of picture prompts and creative writing exercises to be used as a starting point for the children’s inspiration.

There are three sections, each with a number of different tasks. The pupils may choose to do as many or as few as they want, they do not need to respond to every prompt or section. For example, Task C is designed for those with a higher writing ability, but this should not discourage pupils from attempting this task.

It is recommended that the children spend 10-15 minutes on each creative writing task, although this is just a guide and you as the teacher can use your own discretion if you feel more time is necessary. Each submission should be no more than one side of A4.

This project would be suitable for group work, where the children can share their ideas at the end of each task, though each submission should remain individual.

Creative Writing Workshop:

Task A Write about what your character can see, hear and feel…Your character could be: 1) Building a houseOR2) Playing in a riverOR3) Drawing a map Think about:What does your character want?How will they adapt to the new environment?

Task BChoose one photograph and write a poem or story describing it. Link your experience to the landscape.Think about:What will you do in this place?What do you see?What do you smell?What do you feel?What will you build/create?

Task C Continue the story…1) As I gaze across the river...OR2) They stepped onto the land and the first thing they noticed was...OR3) There was a person in the distance…