It's important for little ones to open up their minds too. Read the exercise of your choice to them, give a few minutes for writing, and then have them share their ideas in front of the class. Half the fun is showing off their work!

1.) Take your notebook to the pool or just sit on your front steps. Observe whatever you see and write it down for five minutes.

2.) Spy on some people having a conversation. Do this sitting on the chairs in a food court in the mall or at a sports game.

3.) With a friend, have a silent (written) conversation. I write my sentence, then pass the notebook to you. You write, and pass it back. Be 100% honest in everything you say.

4.) Do the silent conversation with your friend again, but this time, make everything up!

5.) Do the silent conversation with your friend again, but this time, pretend to be characters from your favorite book.

6.) Do it again, but make up your own characters in a make-believe story.

7.) Imagine your dog thinks he's Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. How would he act? What would he think? How would your parents react?