Alibi

Not all writing happens on paper or screen. We spend a lot of time dreaming, thinking, re-arranging, experimenting. When we are planning for writing with children we can think about ways in which we can experiment with language and try out ideas before we set pen to paper. 

Alibi is a game that is not only fun but exercises many elements of the writing brain. It is quite simple to play. Begin by explaining or deciding with the group, what crime has been committed: has the teachers’ stash of chocolate biscuits been raided? a classroom window smashed (the offending missile there on the classroom carpet]? the gerbils let loose to chew up a pile of test papers… Who knows? Give a time frame for when it must have happened.

In pairs, children work out their alibi. Where were they and what were they doing at the time of the crime? They must work out their story carefully. 

One pair is chosen to be questioned. One of the two goes outside the room while the other is questioned by the rest of the class. Then they swap places and the second suspect is interrogated. The detectives must look out for inconsistencies. The suspects must be sure to have their story watertight.

If you want to follow up with some writing, of course, that is a possibility. This used to be a popular game in my classroom. Sometimes children took notes. Otherwise, we just enjoyed each other’s ingenuity and story telling skills.