This week’s academic spotlight shines on Lansing Middle School Literature teachers Brandy Hamilton and Mindy Brinker and their engaging (and spooky) persuasive writing activity they did with their 7th graders.
In this project, students design their own haunted houses and bring them to life through storytelling.
Using persuasive writing skills, each student creates a spooky narrative and a real estate listing aimed at convincing “buyers” to take on their haunted creation. Students then gather around a campfire to share their tales, adding an extra thrill to the experience.
After presenting their stories, the classes hold a “bid” for the best haunted house each class period. The top-scoring house from each class then advances to compete against other winners to win the best haunted house of all the teacher’s classes.
“Students really love this activity. It gives them a chance to be creative and practice using persuasion when writing,” said Brandy Hamilton.
“This assignment is a favorite for students and for me,” said Mindy Brinker. “Capturing student interest with a combination of creativity and writing/speaking skills is a win for everyone!”
This engaging, hands-on approach makes reading and writing come alive for students, encouraging interaction and fun while fostering essential literacy skills, something we have been striving for the last few years with our “focus” on authentic literacy. This activity shows how much fun you can make school, learning, and literacy while also creating lasting memories for our students.
Great job, Brandy and Mindy!
