Descriptive Writing Activities
4th – 8th Grades
The 5th – 8th grade writer succeeds in the descriptive domain through the use of
comparisons and contrasts, as well as through the use of similes, metaphors, and
personification. They will benefit from the use of a thesaurus to choose vocabulary words
that are more precise and vivid.

Describe a memory using vivid language that transports the reader into the
experience by tapping into the reader's five senses (hearing, smell, taste,
touch, and sight).

Describe an experience where the reader is made to share the author’s
feelings/emotions (e.g. joy, fear, sadness, etc.) through the use of vivid
language.

Describe a setting (e.g. mountain stream, ocean storm, abandoned castle,
etc.) so that the readers can experience it for themselves, through the use
of vivid language.
Descriptive Writing Techniques
Describe from memory
Take the topic or object that you are going to write about and picture it in your mind.
Take yourself to where that object is located. It maybe a room in your home, a
favorite animal, or maybe it is fresh, homemade cookies. Imagine that you are close
enough to touch the object. Can you feel it? Look at it closely. What does it look like?
What do you feel as you are imagining the object you are going to describe? Use
these thoughts to generate free writing. Write every detail about the object that you
can remember.
Sketch
Draw a picture of your object. Visualize it in your mind and sketch from memory, or
place yourself comfortably near the object. Allow yourself to fully explore the object
and then draw what you experience. Don't worry about not being an artist. This
sketch is just for you to help you fully explore the details of the object. Sketching the
object also gives you a creative outlet for when you are struggling with putting pen
to paper.
Objective and subjective data chart
For me the best way to really get some ink flowing in all directions for a descriptive
piece is to break apart the subjective and objective material. A good way to do this is
to take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the top of one side of
the line write the word objective and on the top of the other side of the line write the
word subjective. Now, keeping your topic in mind write everything you can think of
that is objective about the object. If you think of something subjective don't worry,
just write it in the other column. Do this until you have exhausted yourself or the
store runs out of paper. Don't worry about having complete sentences; just get ideas
on paper. With this, you have a good start to writing a descriptive piece. All the
details are right in front of you. You may also discover which way you would like to
lean toward in regards to whether or not you want your piece of writing to be more
subjective, more objective or balanced.
Create a list of desired outcomes for your descriptive piece
The big advantage to this is direction. If you have no idea where you are going with
your piece of writing about your Kermit the Frog underwear, then you may want to
do some brainstorming on what you want to accomplish. Do you want the reader to
be moved by the piece because the object is special to you? Do you want the reader
to rush out of their house and drive to yours because you are trying to sell your car?
Think about what you for an outcome both for you and the reader. Write them down
on a piece of paper (or type them).
Different degrees of objective & subjective balance with
different paragraphs
When you have a good feel for your topic, write a couple of paragraphs with different
objective and subjective balance. Write one paragraph that is completely objective.
For example, something you would find in the classifieds section of your newspaper.
Then write a short paragraph that is heavily subjective. Do a couple different
paragraphs to get a feel for what would work best for your object with regards to
your intended reader and your relationship to the object. For instance, if you are
writing about your favorite chair, you may find it makes more sense, and is more fun
to write about it with the balance leaning toward subjective writing.
Description Paragraph
In a description paragraph, you are writing about what a person, place, or thing is like.
Sometimes, you may describe where a place is located.
Examples: Write a paragraph describing what a polar bear looks like.
Describe where Canada's industry is located.
The following words can help you to write a good description paragraph:
Helper Words:
Properties
Measurement
Analogy
Location
size
length
is like
in
colour
width
resembles
above
shape
mass/weight
below
purpose
speed
beside
near
north/east/south/west
Properties
size
Example:
Polar bears are big in size.
colour
Example:
Polar bears are usually white in colour.
shape
Example:
Polar bears have a special shape.
purpose
Example:
The purpose of the polar bear's fur is to keep it warm.
Measurement
length
Example:
The length of a polar bear's claws is 20 cm.
width
Example:
The width of a polar bear's head is about 50 cm.
mass / weight
Example: Polar bears weigh up to 650 kg.
speed
Example:
Polar bears can swim at a speed of 40 km per hour.
Analogy
is like
Example:
A polar bear is like other bears in shape.
resembles
Example: A polar bear resembles other bears in shape.
Location
in
Example:
Most of Canada's manufacturing is located in Ontario and Quebec.
above
Example:
The ceiling is above us.
below
Example:
Most of Ontario is below Hudson Bay.
beside
Example:
Quebec is located beside Ontario.
near
Example:
Many companies are located near Toronto.
north / east / south / west
Example: Ontario is west of Quebec.
Description Essay
In a description essay, you write about what a person, place, or thing is like. You
organize the essay by describing different parts or aspects of the main subject.
Write an essay describing the polar bear.
Example question:
Introduce what a polar bear is.
Introduction:
Supporting paragraphs: 1. Describe where the polar bear lives.
2. Describe the body of the polar bear.
3. Describe what the polar eats.
Summary paragraph:
Summarize what a polar bear is
Activity 1 — Describing the Real World
Teacher's Notes
Pick a room, any room, and spend 10 to 15 minutes observing it. It can be in school, in a candy store, or in
your home. Try to be as descriptive as you can. In the coming assignments, you will work on different types
of nonfiction writing, but in each case your ability to find the right words and the colorful details will be what
makes your story come to life.
Write several paragraphs describing the room — the size and layout, the furniture and decorations, the
people in it, etc. Use plenty of details so that the reader can close her eyes and picture the room. Your
reader would like to hear the sounds (a radio playing, neighbors shouting), smell the odors (bacon cooking,
garbage rotting) and, of course, see the sights. But don't just tell them there is a chair, or even a comfortable
chair. Tell them where in the room the chair is, what color it is, what fabric it's made of, and what it feels like
to sink into the chair.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/diary/index.htm