Writing, Public Speaking, and Science Classes for K-12 Curriculum | PopSmart Academy

Theme:Voices that Matter: Writing for Expression and Impact
Focus: Creative storytelling, poetic technique, personal expression, and performance confidence

Core Skills Students Will Learn

• Creative writing and narrative structure

• Poetry forms and literary devices

• Sensory description and imagery

• Character development and emotional nuance

• Peer feedback and constructive critique

• Oral presentation and performance

• Expressive speaking and stage presence

• Writing for impact, identity, and advocacy
  
  

Daily Curriculum Overview

Day 1 | Finding Your Voice: Creative Writing Foundations

• Fun icebreakers and storytelling warm-ups (e.g., Story Dice, One-Word-at-a-Time Game)

• What is creative writing? Exploring genres and forms

• Introduction to narrative writing: setting, characters, conflict

• Launching into writing with writing prompts

• Take-home: Begin short story or poem draft

Day 2 | Playing with Poetry

• What is poetry? Exploring rhythm, sound, and free verse

• Introduce poetic forms: haiku, acrostic, free verse, spoken word

• Literary devices: simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration

• Poetry writing lab: write a poem about a memory, emotion, or identity

• Take-home: Refine poem for performance or illustration

Day 3 | Writing with Heart: Emotions & Empathy

• Exploring the role of empathy in storytelling

• Writing from different perspectives (e.g., “If I were a tree,” “A letter to my future self”)

• Group writing games: Build-a-story, emotion switching, dramatic dialogue

• Mini-workshop: giving and receiving peer feedback

• Take-home: Revise story or poem to deepen emotion and meaning
  
  

Day 4 | Performance & Presence: Speaking Your Words Aloud

• Public speaking basics for writers: voice, pacing, presence

• Body language, eye contact, and vocal variation for poetry and story reading

• Practice performances with peer feedback

• Visual & verbal storytelling: create a zine, poster, or slide to accompany their piece

• Take-home: Final script or annotated performance piece
  
  

Day 5 | Final Showcase: Poetry & Prose Performance

• Rehearsal and warm-up exercises (movement, breathing, focus)

• Final performances of poems or stories in a celebration setting

• Optional multimedia sharing (illustrated pages, digital slides)

• Student reflection circle: “What I learned about myself as a writer”

• Take-home: Printed or digital portfolio of their writing + performance video (optional)
  
  

What Parents Can Expect

By the end of the week, your child will have:

• Written original poems and/or short stories

• Shared their writing with confidence and expression

• Practiced empathy, imagination, and artistic voice

• Created a creative writing portfolio (print or digital) to keep and share

• Built lifelong skills in communication, self-reflection, and creative problem-solving

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