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• Arthur - "The Contest"
  What would happen if Arthur and his friends entered a contest to write story ideas for their favorite television show? Holly Holland of Canadian, Oklahoma, winner of the TV Guide's "Create Your Own Arthur Episode!", answers just that question. The kids realize that winning would be great, but that writing and sharing is the best part.
• Sesame Street - "4038 - Big Bird Writes a Story"
  Big Bird has written a story and everyone is excited to hear him read it out loud. Big Bird begins to read the story to all of his friends on Sesame Street and as he reads we see his friends acting out the story. However, Big Bird can't figure out how to end the story. The problem is solved when everyone comes up with their own possibilities for story endings and Big Bird combines everyone's great ideas.

Do in Class

• Arthur: Adventure Story - Create a collaborative, spinetingling adventure story from a story outline.
• Arthur: Group Stories - Use story starters to collaborate on oral or written stories for a class "big book."
• Arthur: Publishing and Sharing Stories - Publish students' writing in 8 different ways.
• Between the Lions: Is There a Writer in the House? - Invite your child to use writing skills to help with every day writing activities, such as list-making and using a calendar.
• Maya & Miguel: Friendly Letters - Recognize letter writing as a useful way to communicate and make new friends. Read and copy a written letter, and identify the five parts of a friendly letter.
• Postcards from Buster: Songwriters, Inc. - Practice your writing skills, become a songwriter.
• Reading Rainbow: Three by the Sea - Explore one's own life history by compiling an autobiography with family members. Use photographs, write captions or write a chapter book about oneself.
• Sagwa: Royal Scroll - Create a scroll using watercolor paints to portray a family rule, practice letters or paint a name.

Play Online

• PBS KIDS: Stop & Go - Write a story for your favorite PBS KIDS characters using the picture provided.
• Sagwa: Story Maker - Create a picture, then write a story to go along with it in this interactive activity.

Read

• The Furry News: How To Make a Newspaper
  By Loreen Leedy
  Published September 1996 by Holiday House, Inc.
  Creating a newspaper involves many tasks, as Big Bear, Rabbit, and other animals learn when they publish "The Furry News." They share tips for publishing a newspaper and newspaper terms.
• So, You Wanna Be a Writer?: How to Write, Get Published, and Maybe Even Make it Big!
  By Vicki Hambleton and Cathleen Greenwood
  Published May 2001 by Beyond Words Pub Co
  For those of you who dream of filling a shelf with your own books, you might want to read this book. Twelve chapters examine genres, the writing process, getting published, careers, resources, and more. A glossary explains terms peculiar to the trade, like "royalty!" Also included are sidebars on ten published kid writers from ten to sixteen.

*As most PBS children's programs offer one year extended taping rights for teachers, please feel free to tape them now and save them for use in your classroom during the school year.