FUNKY CHICKEN RHYMING VERSE WORKSHOP

A Bit About Chris Collin I am a writer of fun and funky Australian

children’s Books!

• In 2012 I made a decision to become a full-time writer after a 25 year career in civil construction – A slight career shift!

• Funkybooks is an independent publishing company that I set up to publish my own work.

INTRODUCTION Chris has three published works to date and

plenty more are on the way!!

Today!!

• We are going to watch the amazing audiovisual CD of a Funky Chicken story to give you an idea of my writing style.

• We are going to create our own whacky story based on a very special character...

• You are going to draw a scene from your own story!

FUNKY CHICKEN SLIDESHOW

NOTE

• The rhythm and rhyme of the narrative • The relationship between the music and the story • The funny voices!!

WHEN YOU HAVE ANY CREATIVE IDEAS...

WRITE THEM DOWN!! And put them in a safe place like

• Your bedside drawer

• An old boot

• Or as I do, in the sugar pot!!

IMPORTANT!!

Chris’ Writing Style

• Generally using 11 syllables per line and 4 lines stanzas

• Length around 800 words

Iaambic Tetrameter!

= 4 stressed syllable per line

or Whacky, rhyming verse

When Writing Rhyming Verse

• Choose the number of syllables you will have in each line – this can depend on the very first line and idea you come up with!

• Choose the amount of lines per stanza (a paragraph usually made up of more than one line)

• The importance of rhythm and meter - making the rhyming poem flow or ‘scan’

Put Simply

If a poem scans, it has regular rhythm

This Poem Scans Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall (8 syllables) Humpty Dumpty had a great fall (8 syllables) All the kings horses and all the kings men (10 syllables) Couldn’t put Humpty together again (10 syllables)

A Poem That Doesn’t Scan So Well Humpty Dumpty was seated on a wall (10 syllables) Humpty Dumpty had a particularly bad fall (13 syllables) All the kings unicorns and all the kings men (11 syllables) Couldn’t assemble Humpty together again (12 syllables)

Scanning Example of a Poem We All Grew Up With

Note – the syllables in bold are the stressed syllables

Funky Chicken: A Bushy Tale of Crocs and Chooks

First Stanza

FIRST DRAFT AT BORUMBA SCHOOL CAMP 2005

A long, long time ago when the world was not old, (12 syllables) There was a great meeting of bush animals, or so I am told, (16 syllables) And the purpose of this meeting, which lasted a whole week, (14 syllables) Was to decide on which animal was Australia’s most unique. (17 syllables)

PUBLISHED VERSION 2013 A long time ago when the world wasn’t old, (11 syllables) Bush animals gathered...or so it is told. (11 syllables) A meeting was held that went on for a week, (11 syllables) To decide who amongst them was the most unique. (11 syllables)

LET’S SEE WHAT THE BOOK LOOKS LIKE

1 2 3 4 11 syllables

11 syllables

11 syllables

12 syllables

Let me introduce you to...

• Rhyming words – www.rhymebrain.com

• Thesaurus – www.thesaurus.com

• Dictionary – www.dictionary.com

These are essential writing resources for me

MY 3 BEST FRIENDS!

Our Workshop For Today!! A Funky Chicken Rhyming Adaptation

CREATIVE GROUP PROJECT You are going to create the first few lines of your own whacky

story in rhyming verse!

• Step 1 – Break into groups of 4 or 5 per table.

• Step 2 – Choose a name for your group.

• Step 3 – Let’s go to page one, have some fun and get our creative brains into gear!!

OK...Here are a few lines to help you get started or

If you have your own idea, that’s even better!

Option 1 One day last year (it was April the third), I met Funky Chicken; a very strange bird. With big bulgy eyes and a great floppy beak, The strangest animal I’d seen all that week! Option 2 One day a Lorikeet by the name of Lance Arranged a great bush animal dance Option 3 Funky Chicken slept in. He woke up at noon And decided to ride in a hot air balloon

Pg 1

• Funky Chicken Adaptation • A Funky Story Created By (Your group name) ........................................................................................ • • First Stanza (Go for it!) • .................................................................................................................................................................

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................................................................................................................................................................. • • Second Stanza (If you do this one you’re good!) • .................................................................................................................................................................

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................................................................................................................................................................. • ................................................................................................................................................................. • • Third Stanza (If you do this one you’re super duper good!) • .................................................................................................................................................................

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................................................................................................................................................................. • • Fourth Stanza (if you do this one you’re super duper mega funky!) • .................................................................................................................................................................

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Pg 2

Developing Your Writing Further...

• See if you can finish your Funky Chicken adaptation! Now use this reference for writing any other story you have in mind! Don’t worry too much about rhyming– just get your ideas written down! This is the CREATIVE TIME! All the correcting and editing can be done later. You may decide you don't need or want your story to rhyme - that's ok too!!

• Plot – What will your story be about? It could be something that you or your family experienced or the adventures of a funny whacky character that you create. Let your imagination go crazy! Remember – at the start of your story to make it as exciting and interesting as possible so the reader wants to turn the next page and see what happens next!

• Characters – Who are the characters in your story? How many characters will there be? Sometimes this can be done by jotting down a name and what he or she is like. Remember - the reader doesn't know the character so you need to give personality and life to them in your story. Maybe the characters could be you and your best friend on an adventure or experience that you share together.

• Challenges – What challenges or obstacles are going to be put in front of our characters? Most children’s stories will have 1 or more challenges in the story. This could be finding something or someone that is lost or maybe working out how to stop someone bullying them. An example of this could be two kids stuck inside all day because it’s raining and very bored!

• Resolution – Your characters are going to overcome the challenges presented to them in a positive way. An example of this could be the two kids finding things to do to break the boredom because the play station broke down!

• Message­ - the story should have a happy end and a positive message for the reader.

Pg 3

DRAW YOUR OWN FUNKY CHICKEN STORY SCENE! Pg 4