This is a course that introduces students to various creative writing forms such as poetry and short fiction, The lessons will be centred around the topic of the environment, considering issues such as pollution, climate change and recycling. This course will be conducted online.

Tentative Date: (G1)25,26,27&29Nov or (G2)16,17,18&20Dec 2024 (Mon,Tues,Wed&Fri)

Tentative Time: 10am to 12pm (SGT)

Course Format: 4 x 2 Hour Sessions (Online)

Suitable Age: 10+

Class Size: Min 2, Max 6

First session: Poetic Structures - Rhyme, rhythm and content.

In terms of topics, it would be thinking about a big picture topic like pollution and how that can be written about in a personal way.

Second session: Figurative language - metaphor, simile and personification.

Use personification to develop empathy, e.g. from the POV of a plastic bottle or a styrofoam box or even a perspective of a fish in the ocean. Metaphors and similes will enhance the poem and widen the scope of ideas presented

Third session: Flash fiction (100-150 words)

Focus on writing a scene as a story. Not necessary to have a beginning, middle or end but important to get the message through, e.g. why recycling is important.

Students can write using a photo prompt.

Homework here is to go and take a series of photos and use them to write a poem or flash fiction in the next session.

Fourth session: Writing + Presentation + Feedback

Students will spend 30 mins writing and putting their work online in a Google Slide doc. Then each one will take turns sharing their piece. Finally, I will give them feedback and summarize the whole workshop.

Course Instructor: Marc Nair

Marc is a poet, photographer and educator. He has over nine years of experience teaching Literature, GP and Literary Arts in schools. He has published 11 collections of poetry and exhibited three solo exhibitions of photography. He was awarded the Young Artist Award in 2016 and holds a PhD from RMIT University.