Collecting Mind Pictures and Sensory Observations

There are five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

Let’s look at an example. Jessica, a sixth-grader, took a walk outside and wrote this in her writer’s notebook: Kids playing jump rope Sun shining so bright Cars and trucks zooming around Kids talking Good music Blue and white clouds Wires The news on the radio Big saw Broken basketball ring Closed market Seeing heat waves Baby roses

As you read this, notice which senses she used. As you read this, notice which senses she used. Kids playing jump rope Sun shining so bright Cars and trucks zooming around Kids talking Good music Blue and white clouds Wires The news on the radio Big saw Broken basketball ring Closed market Seeing heat waves Baby roses

You can try this, too. Your notebook is a terrific place to capture “mind pictures” of what’s around you.

I’m calling it a mind picture, because, when you write like this, you’re capturing a snapshot or photograph of your world.

Feel free to add a drawing or sketch if you think that would enhance the mind picture you are trying to create.

You don’t have to go to some faraway place to find ideas to write about.

If you get in the habit of observing, you’ll find that there are plenty of things close by:

Your grandmother’s aged hands Your grandmother’s aged hands The disgusting way your baby sister mashes up her dinner in the high chair The disgusting way your baby sister mashes up her dinner in the high chair The scratchy feel of your father’s face when he gives you a goodnight kiss The scratchy feel of your father’s face when he gives you a goodnight kiss The laughter of your next door neighbor The laughter of your next door neighbor The “crack” of the bat when it hits the baseball The “crack” of the bat when it hits the baseball The chirping birds outside your window The chirping birds outside your window The taste of your mother’s chocolate chip cookies. The taste of your mother’s chocolate chip cookies.

As a writer you should do two things:

First, notice things

second, get in the habit of writing them down

Remember, learning to observe is valuable tool not only for a poet, a scientist, or a newspaper reporter- it is a valuable tool for everyone!

Learning to observe is an important life skill. It helps you be alive to the world around you and value your experience of the world.`

QUESTIONS Which senses did you use when you wrote your sensory observations Which senses did you use when you wrote your sensory observations What other details could you add involving the senses (for example smell or touch) you haven’t used yet? What other details could you add involving the senses (for example smell or touch) you haven’t used yet?