Creative writing involves creative thought. Help students to use their imaginations to dream up new spy gear that James Bond, Carmen and Juni Cortez, or Alex Rider would be proud to use.
Connection to Novels
For upper elementary students and younger middle school students, this lesson can be used with the novels Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (Spy Kids) or Spy Kids Adventures #1: One Agent to Many [Mirimax], which is part of a series of books. For middle school students, try the Alex Rider series, which begins with Stormbreaker (Alex Rider) by Anthony Horowitz [Speak 2006].
For more specific detail about spy gear, use Alex Rider: The Gadgets (Alex Rider Adventure) [Philomel, 2006] by Anthony Horowitz. The book gives specific detail about the spy gear plans and why the gadget was used.
Spy Gear Writing Lesson
Students will write a descriptive paragraph detailing their new spy gear and how it can be used.
Step 1 -- Discuss spy gear that James Bond, Carmen and Juni or Alex Rider have used. For example, discuss the radio mouth brace, a car that turns into a submarine, a spy watch that has a walki-talki and a compass, etc.
Brainstorm Use for Spies
Step 2 -- Have students brainstorm everyday items that could become spy gear or gadgets. This could be done individually or as a class discussion.
Step 3 -- Once students have settled on an item. They need to list details on how it could be used to as a spy gadget. Then, they need to list how it can be used.
Draw Diagram of Gadget
Step 4 -- Next, the students need to draw out the item. This diagram should show how the everyday item becomes a spy gear gadget.
Write Descriptive Piece
Step 5 -- The students needs to write at least one or more descriptive paragraphs. There should be an introduction, body and conlcusion.
Make sure that the students share their the spy gadgets. Prizes could be given to most inventive. After the spy gear is created, students could create a story around the gadget.
