Have you ever found yourself wondering how to make writing lessons fun? Perhaps you dread teaching writing or your students hate writing lessons. Maybe your school provides you with a dull curriculum and you’re desperate to inject a bit of enjoyment into your writing block. I have a way to turn those writing lesson frowns upside down! Are you ready to hear how? Let’s talk about writing crafts!
Note – The crafts pictured in this post are from my writing crafts mega bundle on TPT.
You can also grab them on this website you’re on right now. Click here and save 10% by using the coupon code TERRIFIC10.
What is a writing craft?
A normal craft is an artsy activity where students are making something by hand. It can be fun and doesn’t have to be super educational.
Writing crafts are where writing lessons meet art lessons! A writing craft allows students to have fun making something with their hands…while also practicing their writing skills!
How do students make a writing craft?
Writing crafts often involve students writing on a piece on lined paper and then adding a craft topper. This allows students to do some cutting, gluing, and coloring (it’s therefore pretty simple).
It also allows them to make their writing piece more display-worthy. Writing crafts are great for door decor and bulletin boards. Instead of just a boring piece of paper, there’s something fun and colorful that matches the writing topic attached!
Students will be excited to start writing (knowing that they get to attach the topper). This can be a big motivation for reluctant writers or creative students who dislike writing.
Writing crafts also make students more proud of their writing when they are finished (they are excited to show their friends or parents, for example).
Do writing crafts work with any writing topic/lesson?
The really cool thing about writing crafts is that they can be used for any writing topic, theme, or genre. As you can see with the crafts in this post, the options are endless!
Students can write about seasonal topics (like the Christmas and Valentine’s Day crafts above and below). They can write about extinct or imaginary creatures (like the dinosaurs and monsters pictured above).
As you’ve seen in the crafts so far, students can complete opinion, narrative, informational, and letter writing pieces!
Are writing crafts bad?
Some people have the misguided thought that writing crafts are ‘fluff’. But that’s only if your students are spending more time coloring that writing. Provided that your focus is on writing (and the craft element is a bonus), crafts can be an amazing tool!
Writing crafts allow your writing lessons to actually be enjoyable for students. If your students are checked out (eyes rolling, heads on desks, complaining, or messing about), then no learning is happening. Writing needs to be fun and engaging sometimes, because after all, isn’t teaching supposed to be engaging?
The simple truth? Students don’t learn if they are disengaged.
In this post, I’m sharing pictures of writing crafts that I have made to show you some examples.
Here’s the thing though, crafts can be tricky. They can be time consuming for teachers to organize, stressful to implement, and they can cause chaos and mess if you’re not careful.
That’s why I like to call my crafts ‘no prep, no stress, and no mess’. Let me tell you more.
No Prep –
Are you time poor?
Who wants to spend hours prepping intricate crafts, where you have to print, cut, or laminate? I bet you don’t want to buy costly materials or spend ages sourcing them in your classroom. Well, the writing crafts in this post are NO PREP! Simply print these crafts and go. Yep, print a page or two of paper (no coloring printing).
It’s time to get your evenings and weekends back, my friend.
No Stress –
Do you want something easy for students?
I bet you don’t want to give complicated instructions and then have students begging for help at every turn. “I’ve lost the eyes! Where does this piece go? I need helppp!”
NO more! Students only complete a few simple steps to create these crafts. Color, write, cut, and glue. There will be no tears (from you or your students)!
No Mess –
Do you hate mess at the end of your lessons?
Who wants glitter, paper, and mess everywhere? Not you, I bet.
Well, only things like pencils, scissors, and glue are required for these crafts. No paint and no glitter, I pinky promise!
There are lots of writing crafts in this bundle
The crafts in this post are available in my TPT store and on this website. I have create a mega bundle that includes them all!
So many topics are covered:
- How To/Procedure Writing
- Personal Narrative/Recount Writing
- Fictional Narrative Writing
- Opinion Writing
- Informative Writing
- Letter Writing
For example, here’s a look at the ‘how to’ crafts. They are interactive flipbooks which are so fun for students to make and share with others. The topics are delicious! What student isn’t going to get excited about popcorn, cookies, pizza, burgers, and ice cream?!
Sometimes you want to do something fun for a season or special day. Why not make a cute Halloween writing craft or Easter writing craft?
Are you ready to make your life easier?
- These crafts are great for wall displays and bulletin boards.
- They suit literacy, writing, AND art lessons.
- The crafts are interactive and engaging. There’s lots of flipbooks because teaching writing doesn’t have to be boring.
- They are perfect as a final writing piece at the end of your writing unit.
- Got a sub for the day? Any teacher can handle these activities.
Reasons to buy this bundle:
- This is an ALL ACCESS BUNDLE. This means that you have access to all the writing crafts currently in my store.
- This bundle is completely NO PREP. You simply print and go. Not a single piece of cutting, laminating, colored card etc.
- This is perfect for DIFFERENTIATION and different age groups. These crafts can be used in kindergarten through to 2nd grade. Each craft comes in dotted and plain lines.
- This bundle is a bargain (there’s a MASSIVE discount)!
- Seasonal topics are included with fun and engaging clip art.
There’s really something for every season and special day. Whether you need a St. Patrick’s Day craft or a Thanksgiving craft, there’s something for you!
Ready to grab this bundle? Check it out on TPT here.
Or you can save 10% by using the code TERRIFIC10 at checkout on this website you’re on right now! Click here.
I hope you feel inspired to use writing crafts with your students! Be sure to check out the bundle. If you don’t want to grab the whole bundle, you can check out the individual crafts instead!
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