27 March 2002

Resources for Teaching Writing To Children: Ghost Story and Time Travel Worksheets
by Gwyneth Jones

Gwyneth Jones, writer and critic of science fiction and fantasy, has written more than 29 novels for teenagers, mostly using the pseudonym Ann Halam, and critically acclaimed SF novels for adults, notably the Aleutian Trilogy: White Queen (co-winner of the James Tiptree Memorial Award); North Wind and Phoenix Café. Her short story collection Seven Tales And A Fable won two World Fantasy Awards, and her critical writings and essays have appeared in many publications, including Nature, and New Scientist. This year's publications and honors include: the Richard Evans Memorial Award for lifetime achievement in SF, nomination for the Lanarkshire Teenage Fiction Award, nomination for the Lancashire Children's Book of The Year Award for the horror novel Don't Open Your Eyes (as Ann Halam). Jones also has stories in Dark Terrors Five and The Mammoth Book Of Vampire Stories By Women. Dr Franklin's Island (as Ann Halam) was published this year along with Bold As Love (as Gwyneth Jones), which is due out in August. Find out more about Bold As Love, (a dark fairytale set in near future England) at www.boldaslove.co.uk

Ghost Story Worksheet (64K image)
I've used the ghost story worksheet very successfully with years 7 to 9 of our secondary schools, which includes children aged 11 to 14. I like the session to be between an hour and two hours. (Over two hours is too long. Less than an hour is cramped.) Sometimes the children will start writing in the session, sometimes we spend the whole time in class discussion, with me prompting them and writing up their suggestions on a board or flipchart. It's important that they participate, and see their participation made visible. I use the worksheet as a framework for getting them to see how stories work — the ghost/horror element being the hook that draws them in.

Time Travel Worksheet (120K image)
The time travel worksheet I find especially useful if I have a mixed-ability class. We do presentations with various objects from the present day. The children, aged 11 to 14, will get up little mini-playlets where one child plays the mediaeval character (eg), the other plays the time-traveller, and tries to sell his/her (wristwatch, mobile phone, etc) This leads to a lot of discussion and fun — and can also be the basis for some good writing.