Heart Mapping: Writing From the Heart
Directions
1. Show students the Heart Map Template, or create your own. Start
from the center of the heart, placing the most important person, place,
or thing in the center of your heart. Then, work your way out using
specific words in each section. Be sure to talk about each section as
you’re placing it on your map (e.g., “I always saw my grandparents in
December. Therefore, I’m going to write ‘December with Grandma and
Grandpa’ in my heart since I have so many memories of spending time
with them at that time of the year.”).
2. Take time to answer students’ questions before passing out a blank
heart map to each student. Encourage students to color in sections of
their heart (e.g., they might want to color code it: purple for people,
green for places, blue for things, yellow for ideas) once they’ve filled in
all of the sections.
3. Once all students have drawn their heart maps, photograph each map
with a digital camera so you can print out several copies of the heart
maps for them to keep in all of the places where they write. You might
choose to hang up their original heart maps in the classroom to help on
those days when students cannot come up with something to write
about on their own. Students can tape their heart maps into writer’s
notebooks for inspiration.
4. Each day during writing time, have students use different sections of
their heart maps to craft a story, poem, memoir or essay. Encourage
them to pick a handful of ideas, people, or places from their map, and
incorporate them into their writing. Or, have them start with one
person, place, or memory, and build off of it.
5. Have students present their heart maps and writing to the class. Give
ample time for sharing.
from Awakening the Heart: Exploring Poetry in Elementary and Middle School by