Today I love a new idea...Slice of Life 20 of 31

I stole an idea today, dressed it in my own designs, and ran with it!  In one of the writing prompt books I got for Christmas, it says to find a patient person to go out to dinner with you.  While eating and pretending to listen to your partner, do a little eavesdropping of the table to your right.  Grab a swatch or two of conversation, then turn your attention to the table to the left and do the same.  Take both swatches of conversation, mix and enjoy. 
       Well, since I don't have a restaurant at my disposal in the classroom, I took my 6th graders on a Conversation Scavenger Hunt.  We strolled with our Writer's Notebooks down the hall just listening.  We hadn't gotten far when we heard, "He's afraid of me!" and "It's a bear." and "Whoops! You caught me texting!" and "Wooooo hoooo!  I'm numer 4!" 
       I had seven or eight bits and pieces of conversation in my own notebook before we reached the other side of the building.  When we got back to the room I gave them a few minutes to mix & match their swatches and put together some conversations.  The kids had a great time with this and we had fun hearing each other's "combined" conversations at the end of class.  Can't wait to try some more new ideas out tomorrow!