Continually exposing your students to books will automatically increase their appreciation of vivid language and detailed descriptions. The most descriptively rich types of writing occur frequently in works -- both novels and poetry -- referred to as the “classics,” and include authors and poets such as Dickens, Shelley, Poe, Longfellow and Frost. Stack your classroom library with these selections as well as poetry anthologies, another rich source of descriptive language. Because these books often use more sophisticated vocabulary and archaic language, they do well as read-alouds with you as a guide. Dedicate just 10 or 15 minutes of each day to read from these books that are infused with vivid language and imagery. Remember to pause often to check for understanding, pointing out the language and discussing the imagery the author elicits with his choice of words.
Writing descriptions is all about combining the imagination and the various senses, but students most often rely on their eyes to tell them about the object. Bring in objects that appeal to the various senses and have your students describe them, directing them to use more than just their sense of sight. Give each group of students paper bags containing objects of varying textures, sizes, shapes, odors and flavors. Allow students to explore and write about the contents of the mystery bags without looking inside them. As an extension of this exercise, have the class guess the identity of the mystery objects based on the descriptions students wrote earlier.
Students often lack descriptive writing ability not because they lack imaginations, but because they lack an arsenal of words to describe what they see, experience and imagine. Increase your students’ vocabularies with word walls; these have been a part of the classroom décor since preschool, so your students should be familiar with how they work. Post descriptive words that include not only adjectives and adverbs, but also colorful nouns and strong verbs. Revisit word walls often during the week and add to them from time to time. Print words in different colors to reflect their parts of speech and add them to lists placed into students’ writing folders. Dole out extra-credit points if you notice students using them in their writing.
Students learn by doing and through repetition. Add descriptive writing to your lesson plans every day to familiarize students with descriptive techniques and ease their minds while they are writing. Provide your students with an extensive list of descriptive writing prompts attached to their writing folders. At the beginning of each day, students choose a writing prompt from their lists and write continuously for 15 or 20 minutes. When the time expires, ask several students to read their writing to the rest of the class. Make specific, positive comments stating what you liked. Your writing serves as a model for good writing; sharing your answers to these writing prompts helps students pinpoint why your writing in particular reaches an audience effectively.
Descriptive writing possesses a good measure of figurative language that makes writing come alive. Figurative language includes techniques such as similes, metaphors and personification. Because figurative language lends itself naturally to imagery, have students create artwork to represent common similes and metaphors. Choose a few to share with the class. This activity showcases the ability of words to paint a picture.
Share poems with your class several times a week. Poems typically contain rich vocabulary and vibrant descriptions. Many poets rely heavily on figurative and symbolic language to paint pictures with a very few words. Remember to point out metaphors, similes, personification and onomatopoeia.