Collecting Mind Pictures Collecting Mind Pictures and Sensory and Sensory ObservationsObservations

There are five senses: There are five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, sight, sound, smell, taste,

and touch.and touch.

Let’s look at an example. Jessica, a sixth-grader, took a walk Let’s look at an example. Jessica, a sixth-grader, took a walk outside and wrote this in her writer’s notebook:outside and wrote this in her writer’s notebook:

Kids playing jump ropeKids playing jump ropeSun shining so brightSun shining so bright

Cars and trucks zooming aroundCars and trucks zooming aroundKids talkingKids talkingGood musicGood music

Blue and white cloudsBlue and white cloudsWiresWires

The news on the radioThe news on the radioBig sawBig saw

Broken basketball ringBroken basketball ringClosed marketClosed market

Seeing heat wavesSeeing heat wavesBaby rosesBaby roses

As you read this, notice which As you read this, notice which senses she used.senses she used.

Kids playing jump ropeKids playing jump ropeSun shining so brightSun shining so bright

Cars and trucks zooming Cars and trucks zooming aroundaround

Kids talkingKids talkingGood musicGood music

Blue and white cloudsBlue and white cloudsWiresWires

The news on the radioThe news on the radioBig sawBig saw

Broken basketball ringBroken basketball ringClosed marketClosed market

Seeing heat wavesSeeing heat wavesBaby rosesBaby roses

You can try this, too. You can try this, too. Your notebook is a Your notebook is a

terrific place to capture terrific place to capture “mind pictures” of what’s “mind pictures” of what’s

around you.around you.

I’m calling it a mind I’m calling it a mind picture, because, when picture, because, when

you write like this, you’re you write like this, you’re capturing a snapshot or capturing a snapshot or

photograph of your photograph of your world.world.

Feel free to add a Feel free to add a drawing or sketch if you drawing or sketch if you think that would enhance think that would enhance the mind picture you are the mind picture you are

trying to create.trying to create.

You don’t have to go to You don’t have to go to some faraway place to some faraway place to

find ideas to write about.find ideas to write about.

If you get in the habit of If you get in the habit of observing, you’ll find that observing, you’ll find that there are plenty of things there are plenty of things

close by:close by:

Your grandmother’s aged handsYour grandmother’s aged hands The disgusting way your baby sister mashes The disgusting way your baby sister mashes

up her dinner in the high chairup her dinner in the high chair The scratchy feel of your father’s face when he The scratchy feel of your father’s face when he

gives you a goodnight kissgives you a goodnight kiss The laughter of your next door neighborThe laughter of your next door neighbor

The “crack” of the bat when it hits the baseballThe “crack” of the bat when it hits the baseball The chirping birds outside your windowThe chirping birds outside your window

The taste of your mother’s chocolate chip The taste of your mother’s chocolate chip cookies.cookies.

As a writer you should do As a writer you should do two things:two things:

First, First,

notice thingsnotice things

second, second,

get in the habit of get in the habit of writing them writing them

downdown

Remember, learning to Remember, learning to observe is valuable tool observe is valuable tool

not only for a poet, a not only for a poet, a scientist, or a newspaper scientist, or a newspaper reporter- it is a valuable reporter- it is a valuable

tool for everyone!tool for everyone!

Learning to observe is an Learning to observe is an important life skill. It important life skill. It

helps you be alive to the helps you be alive to the world around you and world around you and

value your experience of value your experience of the world.`the world.`

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Which senses did you use when you wrote Which senses did you use when you wrote your sensory observationsyour sensory observations

What other details could you add involving the What other details could you add involving the senses (for example smell or touch) you senses (for example smell or touch) you haven’t used yet?haven’t used yet?