Creative Composing

Compose means "to put together," "to make up", "to create". Use your creative abilities by doing this Try-It.

#1. Compose a Song
Make up a song for a special day or occasions: a rainy day song, a campfire song, a holiday song, a silly song, a song for a special Girl Scout ceremony. If you play an instrument, make up a song to sing with the instrument. Sing your song alone or with friends

#2. Compose Music for Instruments
Compose a tune for an instrument. It can be an instrument you have made. You can form a band with others and make music together.

#3. Compose a Poem
Poems use words in special ways. Sometimes the words rhyme, which means they sound alike -- out and shout, sing an ring. Sometimes poems have lines that rhyme:

When I grow up,
I'll be a queen,
And never have
To eat a string bean.

Fill in the blanks in this rhyming poem.

I have a cat who
___________________________
It likes to play
___________________________

But not all poems rhythm;

When I ride my bike.
I move so quickly,
I can't see the world.

Use images, write your own non-rhyming poem.

_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

#4. Compose a Painting
Think of a special place. It can be a real place that you've seen or a make-believe place. Now draw it with a pencil on a piece of white paper.
In a painting, the things that are closest to you are usually drawn bigger. Things that are farther away are usually smaller. Look at where things are placed in your sketch. Should anything be mover? Made smaller? Made larger? Do you want to add anything to your sketch or change it in any way?
Next, think  of colors. You can use watercolors, tempera, or poster paints. Hang your paint for others to see.

#5. Compose a Play
Make up a play about something that happened to you one day - for example, in class, at home, on a picnic, on a playground, or during a vacation. Work with friends or create a one-person play. Perform your play for others to enjoy.

#6. Compose a Message
There are many types of messages you can compose, and many ways to compose them. Choose one or more of these messages:

1. A secret message has a code that only you and the receiver of the message know. Before you write your message, you have to create a new alphabet. This is your "code". The letter "A" might be a star, "B" might be a square, "C" might be a happy face, and so on.
2. Write a picture message. Cut out magazine pictures and use them to stand for words or phrases. Combine these with written words.
3. Compose a message using sign language and sign it to someone. Read about sign language on pages 86-87 of the Brownie Girl Scout Handbook.

Other Helpful Links:
Coloring Pictures for Children
Bash The Trash: Making music out of materials you wouldn't normally think of.
Perspective Basics: Explains painting/drawing in perspective.
Kidworld: A web site with writing by kids. Write something good & send it in!
Amazing Kids: Another fun web site where you can read writing by other kids or submit your own.
Just for Kids: Tips on writing & illustrating from a published author of children's books.
Bright Ideas for Writing: Topic ideas & story started from Houghton Mifflin.
American Sign Language Finger Spelling: Dictionary of the ASL alphabet.
http://www.piano.avijon.com/index.html - The Piano Education Page
Singing Leaves - Make up your own song!
http://www.funbrain.com/notes/index.html - The Piano Player: The Game where you read music
 

Brownie Try-Its Page