Collaborative Story Writing with Emoji Random Generator
Details
Activity Description
Students work collaboratively to write a descriptive story from randomly-generated emojis. This is a team writing exercise intended for students to add details to their writing.
Screenshot of the Emoji Random Generator
Preparation
1. Decide if you will provide the emojis that you have randomly generated from the site (as in Sample Story Prompts) or if you will have students in teams generate the emojis. If you do the former, copy and paste the emojis into word-processing files and print out. If you decide to do the latter, be prepared to show students how to use Microsoft Snipping Tool or to do a screenshot and copy, paste, and crop the emojis.
2. Practice with the site.
3. Make sure that the site is not blocked at your school if you will have the teams do the random generation of emojis using the site.
4. Plan and execute a lesson on how to make writing more descriptive, a grammar lesson that you intend to connect to the activity or parts of speech lesson.
How-To
1. Open a web browser and navigate to the site https://byrdseed.com/emoji/.
2. Select "Start Over" if the first emoji displayed is not desired. Select "And then" to add a set number of emojis (five for example).
3. Model the activity as a whole class or show the "Sample of Teams' Emoji Stories" file so that students understand what they are expected to do.
4. Discuss your expectations for teamwork, such as everyone must participate, and provide phrases for teamwork (such as expressions for agreeing or politely disagreeing, for example).
5. Once teams have their set of emojis, give them a time limit for writing their stories (5 - 10 minutes, depending on your students' level).
6. Circulate as teams are writing to give feedback, answer questions, and check on progress.
7. When time is up, teams rotate their stories to another team. Give those teams time to view the emojis and to read what the other team has written. Then give teams a set time to add details to the first story.
8. Repeat for however many desired rounds (three rounds is a good minimum).
9. Collect all teams' work. Read (or have teams read) the first sentence/story and last and discuss what details were added and how the story was improved or changed.
Teacher Tips
Teams could also work together to generate the emoji and then copy them into a word-processing or slideshow file. Teams could be required to use a specific verb tense that has been studied (such as simple present or simple past) or a certain number of parts of speech if they have been taught (such as 5 nouns, three adjectives, and two adverbs).
More Ways
Teachers can project the random emoji generator and add an emoji one by one as individuals, pairs, or teams of students write a story adding a new twist with each new emoji. The same process could be used for impromptu storytelling.
Program Areas
- ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation