ANYONE wanting to find another word for “went” might head for Google or Chat GPT where they might find 20 to 30 synonyms , but few people are likely to think of asking a group of Gloucester primary school students.
However, when asked to find such a word, a group of 14 Gloucester primary school children managed to come up with sixty words, including “bumshuffled”, “twirled”, “teleported”, “hightailed” and “parkoured.”
These children, both girls and boys aged seven to 11, took part in a school holiday creative writing course called “The Magic Pen.”
The course was conducted by Alison Gorman under the auspices of Gloucester Arts and Cultural Council (GACCI).
“The course has the objective of encouraging engagement with writing, and perhaps to move the needle on the children’s idea of writing – something that can be fun.”
Alison explained the course is “To make them understand that they have many more skills than they realise and that writing is a process.”
For the past seven years, Alison has been running a creative writing studio in Sydney, but this was the first course she conducted in Gloucester.
“Doing this in Gloucester has been an absolute thrill.
“The children are delightful, so well-mannered, engaged and imaginative.”
Year three student Kit said, “I’ve come here because mum wanted me to get better at writing. “It helps me to get more ideas and it’s a fun way to spend the holidays, and I’m enjoying it a lot, and it’s helping me find ideas.
“I’m writing a story about a baby emu that hatches in the middle of a sandstorm and finds its way to a hollowed-out tree.”
Olsen, also a student at GACCI said, “I’m learning heaps of new words to describe things.”
Jacinta, also in year three, told News Of The Area, “I like reading books and I want to write some more books and stories.
“I’ve written lots of stories, and one called Kylies Adventures.”
Neve, who is in year two, explained that she was learning that writing can be hard.
“But I’m finding ways to make it easier,” she said.
By John WATTS
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