• Login
  • Donate
  • Programmes
    • Young Writers Programme
    • London Voice
    • Connect events
    • Young Writers Festival
    • Young Mentors
    • Young Writers Residential
    • Folio Academy Mentorships
    • Philip Pyke Memorial Prize
    • National Writing Day
  • Writers
    • Our ambassadors
    • Our writers
    • Become a First Story writer
  • Schools
    • Partner schools HUB
    • Resources for partner schools
    • Become a partner school
    • Sample writing by participants
    • Free writing resources
    • Free Festival Toolkit
    • Free copyright education resources
    • BBC Teach x First Story resources
  • Locations
    • East Midlands
    • Greater London
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
  • About
    • About First Story
    • News
    • Impact Report 2023/24
    • Impact stories
    • Staff and trustees
    • Vacancies
  • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Newsletter sign-up
    • Make a donation
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

First Story

Creative writing charity for young people

  • Login
  • Donate
  • Programmes
    • Young Writers Programme
    • London Voice
    • Connect events
    • Young Writers Festival
    • Young Mentors
    • Young Writers Residential
    • Folio Academy Mentorships
    • Philip Pyke Memorial Prize
    • National Writing Day
  • Writers
    • Our ambassadors
    • Our writers
    • Become a First Story writer
  • Schools
    • Partner schools HUB
    • Resources for partner schools
    • Become a partner school
    • Sample writing by participants
    • Free writing resources
    • Free Festival Toolkit
    • Free copyright education resources
    • BBC Teach x First Story resources
  • Locations
    • East Midlands
    • Greater London
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
  • About
    • About First Story
    • News
    • Impact Report 2023/24
    • Impact stories
    • Staff and trustees
    • Vacancies
  • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Newsletter sign-up
    • Make a donation

Looking back

This exercise uses an object as a prompt to begin writing about life experience and memories. Physical objects often help take us back to a particular time or place. They can also be integral to the stories we tell.

Icebreaker: Time Capsule

Ask students to write a list of items they would put in a time capsule for people (or themselves) in the future to find. What do the objects say about this moment in history? How might they feel, looking back on these items from a future where everything is different?

Exercise: When I was Young

Have students think about an object that reminds them of when they were young. It could be an ornament on the shelf, a present they were given, an item of clothing, a painting or picture on the wall.

What was it? Ask them to describe it in detail. Who does it remind them of? Is there a story related to the object? Try to bring the piece to life. Remind them to use their senses, and to be specific.

Feedback: ask students if anyone would like to read aloud. Are there any phrases in the pieces which stand out as particularly evocative? Why might that be? Ask students to consider this when editing their own pieces.

This exercise was provided by First Story Writer-in-Residence Anthony Cropper.

Above Footer

First Story's funders include

Footer

Contact us

44 Webber Street
London
SE1 8QW

020 7481 7777

info@firststory.org.uk

  • First Story East Midlands
  • First Story London
  • First Story North West
  • First Story Yorkshire
  • Vacancies
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Safeguarding
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Notice
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Site Footer

© First Story Ltd. All rights reserved | Registered Charity No: 1122939 | Company No: 06487410