The following examples come from a creative exercise using oracle cards. Students draw four cards (face down), flip them over, and then write a four-sentence story (one sentence per card). Students work on getting the most out of their words, while the stories often serve as seeds for larger tales. Both pieces are published with permission from the writers, 5th grade students at Woodstock Elementary

Serpent of conflict
by Justin Chen

There once was a serpent who cast a spell on a man named Conflict.
Conflict transformed into a bear.
One night, the Seeker of Water turned Conflict into a wolf.
Now Conflict struggles with each full moon.

Choice
by Chinyere Ike

The choice was made.
The Sacred Flame killed the Circle of Life, instantly overcoming the God of Fire.
This cast the Flame as the new ruler.
He overcame the universe, and everyone lived unhappily forever.

The following two selections are short pieces by Noah Christen and Aaron Chan fifth-grade students at Woodstock Elementary in SE Portland. Both are examples of starter pieces that came from a free-write, the prompt being “The Universe of….”. Both pieces are published here with each writer’s permission.

Universe of Computers
by Noah Christen

Here comes an electric twister along the ground. I have always wanted to go out and give my show to the world. The electric twister could give me the power to force my way onto the screen. But it’s impossible. I’m a virus lost in the great open space of microchips.

I calmly step aside to let it pass. Looking down, I see a bustling metropolis under the see-through ground. I wish I was there. But no, this is my life – condemned to forever wander the plains.

Yet I feel my ways have changed now. I’d like to protect the weak, save new viruses from the older, wiser and stronger ones in this dog-eat-dog world. Actually, I’m not really sure what a dog is, but I know what a horse is because I ride one. I also know what guns and whiskey are because I drink them and shoot them.

I guess you could call this a tech-western.

Universe of Mayans
by Aaron Chan

My legs are hull ribs.
My body is hard as steel.
But my bladder is as red as blood.

I’m sweating like a pig without mud.
I run, I jump, I act warlike
but I still don’t get it.

It was the metal sword
I’ve always wanted. I get
why they didn’t give it to me.

I was exiled,
became a rebel. No choice
of winning the war.

Hush…someone’s coming.
Fast and quick, I run
until I see them.

Rebels like me, exiled
from the world. I join them,
follow to the Mayans

to show them the ways of war.
We attack one-by-one,
struck down.

We didn’t know the power
they had by now.

Every week I’m going to post a couple of selections from some of my writing students as part of an ongoing “Young Writers Series”. Keep an your eyes and mind open as you peer into their imaginations and stories.