JUNE: OTHER WORLDS

Our imagination can take us to other worlds anytime we decide to read a book, write a story or simply daydream.

Modern affordable telescopes mean that anyone can look through a telescope, look into space and examine other worlds.

Scientists & astronomers have for a long time been exploring space. They’ve mapped our universe full of other planetary worlds and are trying to explore further into space. Astronauts push the boundaries of space travel so that one day we may be able to travel to other worlds ourselves.

Scientists and government organisations search for alien life forms and other worlds that can support life.

Aliens and other worlds are the basis for many sci-fi/ fantasy books, films and TV programmes.


Fiction has created worlds in parallel universes as well as secret & hidden worlds that can be reached through our own.

Think of the wardrobe that leads to Narnia & the magical world of Harry Potter kept secret from muggles.

We also use the word ‘world’ in the sense of ‘the world of....’ Example: the world of music, the world of the rich and famous etc...... So in this way another world can be life outside of your personal experience. For instance the underwater world that exists out of sight under our seas and oceans.

Whether you want to write about the celebrity world, create a new alien world, imagine you’re an astronaut or write about your astronomy hobby – the theme of “other worlds” holds lots of possibilities.

What does the theme of ‘other worlds’ inspire you to write about?

We’d love to read your writing.

Please email your writing to bodminbookworm@aol.com
(Don’t forget to include your name, age, class/year & school)

MAY: CELEBRATIONS & FESTIVALS

People like to celebrate things that are important to them. Some celebrations are individual celebrations e.g. Birthdays and others are shared by large social groups e.g. Christmas.
At the top of this page you will see a list of possible celebrations and festivals.

When writing about a festival or/and celebration you may like to consider the following:



Customs/Traditions/Rituals:

Many celebrations and festivals contain expected activities.

Examples:

• At a wedding it is traditional for the bride to carry a bouquet of flowers and for the best man to give a speech at the wedding reception.
  
• At a christening the priest will wet the baby with water from the font.
  
• A big part of many celebrations involves people taking photographs or film of the events and people involved to act as a keepsake and record.
  

Food & drink:

Celebrations and festivals often involve certain foods and drinks.

Examples:

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On a person’s Birthday it is usual to have a Birthday cake with candles to blow out.

At a Harvest Festival people often bring offerings of fruit, vegetables and bread.

At many celebrations people toast the honoured person/people with a glass of champagne.

Costumes & dress code:

Many celebrations and festivals require people to dress a certain way.

Examples:

• At a Halloween party people dress up as ghosts, skeletons, witches and wizards.
• At a wedding it is usual for all guests to be dressed smartly. The bride and bridesmaids will often have elaborate dresses and the groom will wear a suit. (Although this is not true for all weddings)
• A historical festival may see everyone dress in historical costumes.
• At a University graduation the graduates wear special caps and gowns.
  

Decorations:

Most celebrations and festivals use decorations.

Examples:

• A Birthday party often has balloons & banners.
  
• A May Day celebration may include flags and flowers. Posters may be put up to advertise the event.
  
• At Christmas we decorate trees and rooms with colourful ornaments.
  
• Certain symbols are often used in decorations such as a cross being used in Christian festivals.

Awards & competitions:

Some festivals and celebrations include competitions and the presentation of awards. A celebration of achievement may involve a ceremony where a medal, certificate or trophy is given.

Examples:

• When a person retires from a job a party may be held and the person may be presented with an engraved tankard.
  
• A student who has worked particularly hard at school may be awarded a certificate at an end of term party.
  
• A flower festival may have a competition for the best flower arrangement.
  
• A horticultural festival may include a prize for the largest vegetable in a category.
  
  
  Music:

Music frequently plays a part in celebrations and festivals.

Examples:

• At a Birthday party people will sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the person whose Birthday it is.
  
• At ‘obby ‘oss day in Padstow there are traditional songs.
  
• At Christmas we sing Christmas songs and carols at school, church and community events.
  
• All around the country, especially in the Summer, festivals are held to celebrate music. This music may be popular music (e.g. Glastonbury) or classical (e.g. proms in the park).
• There may be local summer fetes in honour of summer that feature a brass band or school rock group.
  

Dance:

Dancing often plays a part in celebrations and festivals.

Examples:

• May Day celebrations and festivals traditionally include dancing around a Maypole.
  
• Parties will often include dancing to a disco or live music.
  
• At a wedding it is customary for the bride and groom to have the first dance at their wedding reception.
  

Gifts & cards:

To commemorate a celebration gifts and greetings cards are sometimes given.

Examples:

• At Christmas we give friends and family presents and cards.
  
• If someone has moved into a new home they may hold a house warming celebration. In this case we may take them a ‘New Home’ card and perhaps a plant or bottle of wine.
  
• It is common to receive chocolate eggs as an Easter gift.
  
  

Displays/Exhibitions/Processions:

Special displays and presentations are often organised to enhance a celebratory event.

Examples:

• A town’s summer celebration may include a procession with floats. Each float may be decorated to reflect a certain theme e.g. the local playschool may decide to make their float look like a ship and then all dress up as pirates.
  
• On New Year’s Eve part of the festivities often include fireworks.
  
• A celebration of achievement may include a display of someone’s work or a film of their life.
  
• Festivals sometimes include a marching band or dancers that will proceed through the streets of the town/city.
  
  
  
  

Entertainment:

Some celebrations and festivals include organised entertainment.

Examples:

• A children’s party may include a clown or magician.
  
• A festival may have a stall with a face painter or balloon artist to help keep children entertained.
  
• A band or orchestra may entertain people at parties and events.
  
• At a school celebration the drama club may perform a sketch.
  

Perhaps you may like to write about a special celebration you were part of.

Or maybe you’d like to imagine what your ideal Birthday celebration would include.

If you’re writing a story, perhaps it can be set at a festival or celebration.

Remember to consider all the sights, sounds, smells and tastes involved.

Did you eat too much Birthday cake or feel really hungry when you smelt the onions frying on the hotdog stand?

What were the feelings surrounding the celebrations? E.g. excitement or anxiety.
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We look forward to reading your writing.

Send your writing to bodminbookworm@aol.com .

APRIL: SPRING

The season of Spring in the UK is generally thought to be during the months of March, April and May.
However, the ancient Celtic calendar states that Spring can begin early February and finish in early May.
In countries further south their Spring may be in different months. This is because countries like Australia have their warmer weather when we have our colder months.


Will your writing reflect the themes associated with an English Spring or take inspiration from other countries and cultures?

Spring is the season traditionally associated with celebrating the end of Winter and the new life that Spring brings.

You could write about how you feel about the Spring season. Are you glad to see the end of Winter? How do you feel when you see the first flowers appear? What are you favourite things about Spring? What things do you plan to do in the Easter holidays?




Spring brings warmer weather (hopefully!!!) and increased daylight hours (i.e. our days are lighter for longer). Although we have the term ‘April showers’ for a reason – in Cornwall we certainly get many rain showers in the Spring months!


You may like to write about Spring weather or base a story in this season.




During the Spring months new life is displayed wonderfully throughout nature.

In Spring we see: blossom, buds, daffodils, snowdrops, crocuses, tulips and green returning to trees and plants.

Certain animals are also associated with Spring: Easter chicks, bunny rabbits and new born lambs.

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The natural world and animals provide many opportunities for writing. For example: you could write a poem about Spring flowers or a story about a rabbit’s adventures.

Food plays a central & essential part of our daily lives. There are various foods associated with Spring including: Chocolate eggs, decorated hard boiled eggs, Hot Cross Buns, Simnel cake, Spring vegetables (e.g. asparagus, broccoli) and Spring fruit (e.g. Rhubarb).

Although we have just had a monthly theme of food – perhaps you’d like to write something based on food associated with the Spring months. Example: a student who makes the largest chocolate Easter egg in the country.

Over the centuries people have celebrated Spring as the death of winter and have viewed it as the beginning of new life. This has been expressed through various rituals, celebrations and festivals.

There are various celebrations, festivals and events that occur in the Spring months. These include: Easter, Lent, Palm Sunday, Ascension, Good Friday, Maundy Thursday, April Fools, Mother’s Day, May Day, May pole dancing, Beltane, Spring Equinox, St David’s Day, St George’s Day, St Patrick’s Day.

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There are also many festivals in Spring celebrated by various faiths including Buddhism, Sikh, Baha’i, Jewish and Hindu.

Perhaps you’d like to write about a Spring time celebration or event that you enjoy or have participated in. For example: maybe you participated in a St George’s day parade or gave your Mum an extra special Mother’s Day.

Maybe you’d like to research a Spring event that you’ve not experienced and write about what you’ve discovered. Example: you may like to research Celtic Spring celebrations.

Or write a story about someone attending a Spring celebration. For example: a story about a school who performs May pole dancing at their local May Day fair or a class that perform an Easter play.

The theme of ‘Spring’ can be interpreted in hundreds of ways.

When writing don’t forget to consider all five senses: sound, touch, sight, smell, taste. For example: the smell of daffodils and the taste of your chocolate Easter egg.

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Email all your ‘Spring’ themed writing to bodminbookworm@aol.com . Please also visit the EXTRA page and comment on the book recommendations. If you have any inspiration, hints or tips on writing on the ‘Spring’ theme then please email bodminbookworm@aol.com and your ideas could be published on the HIT page.

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We look forward to reading your writing!

MARCH: "FOOD"

This month's theme is "Food"

Food plays an obvious and essential part in our lives: nourishment and nutrition. It gives us energy and healthy food such as fruit give us essential nutrients for body and mind. There are also medicinal foods; for example herbs and vitamin rich foods that help us fight a cold may include lemons and Echinacea.

Food extremes could include: starvation if we don't eat anything; vomiting and weight gain if we eat too much; ill health or rotten teeth if we eat too much unhealthy foods.

When writing stories you could imagine what food aliens eat, create a new recipe or write of food that had magical properties.

But food can also be fun. We all have our favourite foods - perhaps like the girl in the picture we love ice-cream. There are also foods that we dislike: perhaps sprouts or liver. There are foods that we are encouraged to eat because they are healthy.

We can write about our food experiences using descriptions such as: sweet, sour, smooth, crunchy, delicious, bitter etc..... Our sight, smell and touch also play a part in our perception of food. We can also describe how they look, smell and feel. These senses can alert us to spoiled or poisonous food e.g. rotten eggs smell really pungent.

Sometimes, parents offer food as a reward. e.g. if you behave well or complete your homework you may be rewarded with chocolate buttons. But if dinner isn't finished then perhaps you aren't allowed desert.

Certain foods can be associated with mood. People talk about relaxing with a cup of tea and a biscuit. Or breakfast in bed may be comforting when we are ill or tired.







Food plays a part in many stories. 'The Gingerbread Man' is a famous tale where the main character is actually food. In 'Hansel and Gretel' the cottage is made from marzipan and sweets. The porridge in 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' plays a prominent part in the tale. Authors such as Roald Dahl have used food as a central theme. Consider his story 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'.

Writers use food in simile, metaphor and symbolism. Example: 'she was as sweet as sugar' OR 'went through it like a hot knife through butter'. They also use the five senses (described above) to describe their characters interaction with food. A character's stomach may rumble when they pass a bakery and smell freshly baked bread.

Food can play an important part in celebrations. For instance a Birthday cake is a much anticipated treat served at Birthday parties. Chocolate eggs are a popular gift at Easter. Christmas pudding is traditionally served at Christmas. Pumpkins are used at Halloween.

When thinking of story ideas think about the unusual. What if the Birthday cake had a hidden surprise within it? Or instead of receiving a chocolate egg your received a golden egg. Pose the 'what if' question e.g. what if no one remembered to get you a Birthday cake? What if in other worlds people celebrate by eating worms? What if your carved pumpkin came to life?

Or perhaps you have a real life story to tell - maybe a baking disaster. Or maybe you've tried to eat unusual or disgusting foods.

'Shrove Tuesday' has become so synonymous with pancakes that it is often referred to as 'Pancake Day'. It has become a celebration that involves cooking, flipping and eating pancakes. Perhaps you have a Pancake day tale to write about.

Your writing may be about a person who works in a food related occupation such as: a chef, waitress, chocolate maker, baker, school dinner lady, butcher, green grocer, dietitian. Or your story may be set in a place associated with food such as: a cafe, school dinner hall, restaurant, burger bar, at dinner table at home.

Food can also be associated with certain activities. Examples: eating popcorn at the cinema; ice cream at the beach; bonfire toffee on Fireworks nights; hotdogs at the fairground or sports arena.
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Regional and Cultural foods: There are food associated with countries and regions. For example: Cornwall is famous for pasties; Curry comes from India; the UK is known for its fish and chips; in France they eat frog's legs.
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Food in History: There are stories to be found throughout history where food has played a memorable part. For example: World War 2 food rationing; medieval banquets in Tudor times; potato famine in Ireland; the West's discovery of spices; Slavery on sugar plantations.
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There is lots of writing that can be done using 'Food' as a theme. We look forward to reading your 'Food' inspired writing. Please email your writing to bodminbookworm@aol.com .


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February: 'MAGIC'

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The theme in February is 'MAGIC'.

Magic can be a supernatural fantastical power often attributed to witches and wizards or to magical objects. Magic can also refer to illusions and tricks performed by Magicians. However, there are many magic moments to be found in everyday life; in our relationships, in the wonder of the natural world and in the small miracles we encounter. There can be magic powers, objects, extraordinary moments, miracles, natural phenomenon & breathtaking scenery.

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One dictionary definition:
1. the supposed power to make things happen by using supernatural means
2. tricks done to entertain; conjuring
3. any mysterious or extraordinary quality or power
4. like magic very quickly
(Collins Essential English Dictionary)


Another definition: ‘exceptional skill or talent’ (The New Oxford Dictionary of English)

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Magical people may include: Witches, wizards, fairies, magicians, elves and ordinary people with extraordinary powers (e.g. Spiderman). Some of our human heroes (e.g. sport personalities) seem to perform as if by magic.

Magical creatures may include: dragons, unicorns, centaurs and then animals that have unusual powers (e.g. talking cat) and fictional magical creatures such as those in the Narnia stories or Lord of the Rings.

Magical objects may include: mythical objects such as King Arthur’s sword Excalibur; fairytale objects such as Jack’s magical beans or the talking mirror in Snow White; ordinary objects with magical properties such as the wardrobe in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe or Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak; a magicians hat or wand.

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Another dictionary definition of magic is:

“a special and exciting quality that makes something seem different from ordinary things”

(Cambridge online dictionary)

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Magical Moments may include: the birth of a baby or baby animal; watching an exquisite sunset or a clear starry night; witnessing a person achieve great things (e.g. perform a very difficult violin solo or a sports person breaking a record); miracle healing; a momentous life event that made you feel blessed; visiting a place (e.g. cathedral, stone circle, cave etc.) that evokes powerful feelings, positive or negative.

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You could create a magic story, character, object and place. Alternatively you may wish to write about a magical experience you’ve had. You may want to write a song, poem or investigative article. Maybe you’d like to tell us about a book, film or TV programme that is appropriate to this theme.

Whatever type of writing you prefer - we look forward to reading your writing on the February theme of ‘Magic’. Send your writing to bodminbookworm@aol.com .

Don’t forget to check out the Extra & HIT pages – we’d love to read your hints, inspiration, tips, reviews, recommended reading etc.

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