Random Objects in the Creative Writing Classroom

I've written before about using objects as writing prompts (see this blog post for explanation and pictures). Usually I spread objects out on a table and have students pick one. We do a variety of types of writing: description, writing in the voice of the object, free associating to access memories based on the object. It works well across writing classes.In my Creative Writing class, half the students have had me in other classes, so I wanted to do a different approach, but still use objects. We meet in one of the larger classrooms, so I had an idea. I got to the classroom early and was happy to see that the room was set up with tables in the middle and a ring of tables around the edge of the room. I decided to use 12 of them as stations.At first I thought I would put one object per table, and then I thought it would be more interesting to have several objects. Some tables had connected objects: for example, on one table I put Christmas ornaments, a Christmas card, a packet of…