10-minute Learning Activity: Good For Mid-term

10-minute learning activities are effective strategies for creating connection, inviting meaningful disruption, and generating energy in any creative writing classroom.

Word Survey

Share via a presentation or create a handout of questions, and ask students to move around the room collecting answers to the following questions:

1. 1. A boring word
   2. A word that sounds good but has negative meaning
   3. Without looking, what would you guess the next word is in the dictionary after ABACUS?
   4. What is the stupidest flower?
   5. What’s one thing you believe in?
   6. What’s one trend you definitely did not avoid in high school?
   7. What’s the most disgusting thing you would put in your mouth for $50?
   8. What would you compare the size of your heart with?
   9. A word that sounds bad but has a positive meaning
   10. A word that’s embarrassing to say
   11. A word he or she has heard but does not know the meaning
   12. A word that’s not in the dictionary

It’s important to stress that they approach a different person for each question. Once they have gathered a selection of words, they can use them to create a poem, a story, a character, or some other piece of writing.

Please make sure you adapt this exercise to suit any accessibility needs of your group.