0 Inspired to Write: PicLits

PicLits.com is a creative writing site which provides images (unfortunately, you cannot upload your own pictures) and word banks to generate sentences about the picture.  According to the site, “The object is to put the right words in the right place and the right order to capture the essence, story, and meaning of the picture.” 

Students have the option to choose words from the word bank - by dragging/dropping them into the photo - or composing/ “freestyling” their own words.

As the words are dragged/dropped onto the picture, the site allow for the option of capitalization as well as various tenses of the word. It even has end punctuation! How cool is that! 

It is amazing to me that this site has been around since 2008 and I just now stumbled upon it. I cannot wait to share this with my teachers!

Classroom Applications: 

• Practice the various types of sentences (Grammar)
• Writing/introducing poetry (i.e. Alliteration, Limericks, Lanterne, Diamante, Haiku)
• Creative/descriptive writing
• Free verse poems
• Parts of speech 
• Subject/verb agreement
• Compound/complex sentences
• Story starter
• Inferencing
• Vocabulary words (example1)
• Practice with foreign language
• Word formation
• Verb tenses
• New Year resolution
• Sensory and figurative language (i.e. Simlies/Metaphors, Synonyms/Antonyms)
• Character traits
• One line summary of a song or story
• Collaborative writing
• Prompts for journal writing
• The images and accompanying word banks provide visual and vocabulary support for ESL students and reluctant writers. http://www.web2teachingtools.com/piclits.html#
• Science classes can use the nature photos to write about curriculum topics. http://www.web2teachingtools.com/piclits.html#
• Images can be used to practice math problems or write math sentences. http://www.web2teachingtools.com/piclits.html#
• Have students find a memorable quote from a story or book they are reading and create a Piclit to showcase it. http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Each student can choose a phrase they hear often (from mom, dad, grandma, teacher etc.) and design a Piclit around it.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose a line from a favorite poem and create a Piclit.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose a line from a favorite song or rap, http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose five vocabulary words.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose five adjectives to describe the picture they chose.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose five rhyming words to describe the picture they chose.   http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits