Images to prompt writing
March 26, 2015 7:10 PM Subscribe
I need pictures that are funny or creative in some way, but also have several subjects/actions visible. Here's one that works really well. Here's a page with several that could work.
Can you help me find more that are 6th grade appropriate and have limited/no text on them?
I'm a 6th grade teacher in Marin, CA, at a fantastic public school. Part of my class is teaching grammar and writing through images. I have a link on my blog (most recent post, link in my profile if you want to know more) explaining the process.
But it's surprisingly hard to find suitable images, and I need some help.
Here are some that don't work, either because of content or lack of subjects/actions. GIFs could work, though I'd prefer static images.
Thanks for the help, hivemind!
I'm a 6th grade teacher in Marin, CA, at a fantastic public school. Part of my class is teaching grammar and writing through images. I have a link on my blog (most recent post, link in my profile if you want to know more) explaining the process.
But it's surprisingly hard to find suitable images, and I need some help.
Here are some that don't work, either because of content or lack of subjects/actions. GIFs could work, though I'd prefer static images.
Thanks for the help, hivemind!
A Google image search for funny situations brings up a lot that seem like they would work. Likewise kids funny situations, people in funny situations, and kids and animals funny.
posted by Redstart at 7:30 PM on March 26, 2015
posted by Redstart at 7:30 PM on March 26, 2015
Response by poster: The animal photobomb is perfect - the kids LOVE cats. They will do anything if it has to do with cats.
@Redstart, I've done lots of those google searches and the results usually end up with 2-3 that are usable (the guys falling off the ladder picture from the people in funny situations search, for example). But I have to comb through hundreds of suggestive or text-filled or otherwise inappropriate pictures. My hope was for some specific photos rather than suggestions for search terms.
And one thing the internet is really good at it is producing awesome, interesting, funny pictures.
I'll step back now. Looking forward to seeing other suggestions!
posted by guster4lovers at 7:42 PM on March 26, 2015
@Redstart, I've done lots of those google searches and the results usually end up with 2-3 that are usable (the guys falling off the ladder picture from the people in funny situations search, for example). But I have to comb through hundreds of suggestive or text-filled or otherwise inappropriate pictures. My hope was for some specific photos rather than suggestions for search terms.
And one thing the internet is really good at it is producing awesome, interesting, funny pictures.
I'll step back now. Looking forward to seeing other suggestions!
posted by guster4lovers at 7:42 PM on March 26, 2015
Have you tried reddit's cute animal subreddit?
And cuteoverload.com?
posted by harrietthespy at 8:17 PM on March 26, 2015
And cuteoverload.com?
posted by harrietthespy at 8:17 PM on March 26, 2015
Enthusiastically seconding The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. It's perfect.
posted by unknowncommand at 8:25 PM on March 26, 2015
posted by unknowncommand at 8:25 PM on March 26, 2015
Oh my god no what you should do is buy a pack of Dixit cards. I can't believe I didn't think of that earlier.
posted by phunniemee at 8:55 PM on March 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by phunniemee at 8:55 PM on March 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: One more quick clarification.
These pictures are used to find three of every part of speech. Then they write a simile. Then they write a paragraph with one of every part of speech describing the photo.
I'm using one photo every day for 3-4 weeks. The most important factor is pictures that let you choose a great verb that can attach a great adverb. It's important to have a lot going on in the picture that can be seen from a variety of perspectives. I am also using it to teach subject and predicate, so it's important (especially at the beginning) to have some easy choices for who is doing the action. The awkward family photos site is perfect in principle, though I'll have to dig a bit to find some that work for this purpose.
If you want to know more about the strategy, it's (very slightly) adapted from Lesson Design Rock Star Jon Corippo.
I'd rather not buy anything, at least not now. I'll take a look at Dixit and Mysteries of Harris Burdick, but it seems like those are illustrations, and I would like photos.
Sorry to have to add more specifics afterwards. This has helped me narrow down exactly what I wanted (and should have asked for in the original post). Thank you for the suggestions!
And I'm done responding. Thanks everyone!
posted by guster4lovers at 9:24 PM on March 26, 2015
These pictures are used to find three of every part of speech. Then they write a simile. Then they write a paragraph with one of every part of speech describing the photo.
I'm using one photo every day for 3-4 weeks. The most important factor is pictures that let you choose a great verb that can attach a great adverb. It's important to have a lot going on in the picture that can be seen from a variety of perspectives. I am also using it to teach subject and predicate, so it's important (especially at the beginning) to have some easy choices for who is doing the action. The awkward family photos site is perfect in principle, though I'll have to dig a bit to find some that work for this purpose.
If you want to know more about the strategy, it's (very slightly) adapted from Lesson Design Rock Star Jon Corippo.
I'd rather not buy anything, at least not now. I'll take a look at Dixit and Mysteries of Harris Burdick, but it seems like those are illustrations, and I would like photos.
Sorry to have to add more specifics afterwards. This has helped me narrow down exactly what I wanted (and should have asked for in the original post). Thank you for the suggestions!
And I'm done responding. Thanks everyone!
posted by guster4lovers at 9:24 PM on March 26, 2015
Another place to explore is Storybird, which has all sorts of images and artwork to inspire writing.
posted by liss at 11:46 PM on March 26, 2015
posted by liss at 11:46 PM on March 26, 2015
One phrase that might be helpful is "caption this" -- there are all sorts of websites and competitions that rely on a funny action photo that is begging for a good caption. You'll still have to wade through a ton of noise, but you might get a few other good hits.
Goat riding a motorcycle in the back
Horse and carriage at McDonald's drive-thru
Gangnum snowman and dude
Funny Snowman Pictures - bulldog and snowbulldog [there are many other "funny snowman photos" which might also lead into sandcastles as inspiration]
Dogs doing activities - mushing, herding, yoga, interspecies love.
Cat with kid and goldfish, fishing, riding in a tiny shopping cart.
How about some great old photos? Lots in the public domain archives, such as this panda taking photo of a kid.
posted by barnone at 7:57 AM on March 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Goat riding a motorcycle in the back
Horse and carriage at McDonald's drive-thru
Gangnum snowman and dude
Funny Snowman Pictures - bulldog and snowbulldog [there are many other "funny snowman photos" which might also lead into sandcastles as inspiration]
Dogs doing activities - mushing, herding, yoga, interspecies love.
Cat with kid and goldfish, fishing, riding in a tiny shopping cart.
How about some great old photos? Lots in the public domain archives, such as this panda taking photo of a kid.
posted by barnone at 7:57 AM on March 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Kids wearing clothes/backpacks in waves (could lead to a good search for beach activity photos in general)
Kids looove dogs/animals in costumes - there are parades that might give you multiple animals/people in one shot
Lots of beautiful photos of children in this album
Superman kid in NYC (kids in costumes might be another good search)
This album called has lots of evocative photos of situations - they might give you good inspiration, and some of them look like they'd work well
posted by barnone at 8:17 AM on March 27, 2015
Kids looove dogs/animals in costumes - there are parades that might give you multiple animals/people in one shot
Lots of beautiful photos of children in this album
Superman kid in NYC (kids in costumes might be another good search)
This album called has lots of evocative photos of situations - they might give you good inspiration, and some of them look like they'd work well
posted by barnone at 8:17 AM on March 27, 2015
And inspiration from a Metafilter post, elephant polo!
Just had another idea -- you could reverse engineer the photo selection a bit, by searching various verbs and different adjectives and adverbs, and seeing what comes up.
posted by barnone at 8:57 AM on March 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Just had another idea -- you could reverse engineer the photo selection a bit, by searching various verbs and different adjectives and adverbs, and seeing what comes up.
posted by barnone at 8:57 AM on March 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I had a creative writing teacher use the weird and mysterious images from Chris Van Allsberg's book "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" as writing prompts.
It was a wonderful exercise.
posted by egeanin at 9:59 AM on March 27, 2015
It was a wonderful exercise.
posted by egeanin at 9:59 AM on March 27, 2015
This series of photos just showed up on the Blue and reminded me of this question. The verbs would vary quite a bit depending on whether the kids identify with the kids or the grownups. Plus I want to know what 6th graders think of the snotsucker. :)
posted by tchemgrrl at 8:26 PM on March 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by tchemgrrl at 8:26 PM on March 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by phunniemee at 7:14 PM on March 26, 2015 [2 favorites]