Curated OER
Determining Ideas and Adding Details
A handy TFDC (topic/fact/detail/conclusion) graphic organizer (included) allows young writers to outline and record their main ideas and supporting details in the prewriting phase. They then continue to add details to the topic sentences...
Polk Bros Foundation
I Can Compare and Contrast
Work with your class to fill out this Venn diagram. Pupils can compare and contrast any two things and then write a short paragraph about the relationship demonstrated in their diagram.
Anchorage School District
Conclusions Wall Poster
Good endings, the ones that let readers know they haven’t lost the last page, can be hard to craft. Here’s a poster of hints that will make process easier for your young writers. The template includes suggestions for what to do, what not...
Curated OER
How Do You Plan For Your Writing ?
In this writing worksheet, learners organize their thoughts for a story by creating an outline. Students use the rubric at the top to help ensure they have the components they need to write a great story.
Curated OER
Does Word Choice Affect the Quality of a Piece of Writing?
Students discuss the importance of word choice in writing. In groups, they rank a list of words from one extreme to the other. After viewing an example, students apply their knowledge of word choice by writing a descriptive paragraph of...
Curated OER
Making a Magical Story
Fourth and fifth graders use their knowledge of developing character, dialogue, and setting to produce an original story. An excerpt from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is used as inspiration to get everyone's creative juices...
Curated OER
Weaving a Story of Cooperation: The Goat in the Rug
Weaving is an important part of Navajo culture. Read The Goat in the Rug to your fourth and fifth graders, and give them a glimpse into the process of rug making from the point of view of a goat! They will learn new vocabulary words and...
Curated OER
Dramatic Outlines
Students write about main characters. In this dramatic writing lesson plan, students brainstorm character ideas. Students create actions and give the character a voice. Students act out the scene in groups and create a final draft.
Curated OER
Building Original Narratives
Fourth graders act out and write original narratives. In this theater meets writing lesson, 4th graders work in groups to create original narratives; after students act out their story, they write it down as a narrative.
Anchorage School District
Flexibility Wall Poster
All paragraphs do not have to be the same! Let your class know with a poster that demonstrates five different paragraph styles, ranging from a six-sentence paragraph to a ten-sentence paragraph. Each style includes a brief sample outline...
Curated OER
Paraphrasing and Summarizing
Read an article about the migration of our ancestors and write a paragraph. Pupils paraphrase and summarize to restate the information found in a nonfiction text. They write a shortened version of the reading to demonstrate the...
Curated OER
The Newspaper Article
Have your class participate in an interview activity using an informational text about the Amazon. After reading a Cultural Connections story about a person from the Amazon, middle schoolers write interview questions based on the text....
Curated OER
Luscious Language Boxes
Students experience a writing activity aimed at spicing up their writing. They use the classroom Luscious Language Box to add creative parts of speech to their writing.
Curated OER
Adventure Stories
Students write an adventure story. In this writing lesson, students listen to an adventure story and identify the elements of an adventure story. Students use story starters to create their own adventure story.
Curated OER
Big Mac Paragraph Format
In this paragraph format worksheet, students use the graphic organizer to help them learn the paragraph format of introduction, detail 1-3, and conclusion.
Anti-Defamation League
On-Screen Diversity: Why Visibility in Media Matters
Characters play a significant role in why we like certain shows and movies but are the characters we watch representing the diverse society in which we live? Scholars examine this question through thoughtful discussion about popular...
Curated OER
Space Food
What do astronauts eat in outer space? Kids can read an informational passage to learn about space food. The passage includes prompts that have learners identify the main idea and key details, then write a paragraph summarizing the text....
Curated OER
Working at the Hospital
Having this reading passage handy to assess your learners' ability to process written text, practice summary with your class, and improve reading comprehension. This passage is about the people who work at the hospital. Learners read...
Curated OER
Research Using Technology
Pupils receive an index card, and they write down jobs and hobbies that interest them. Then, they get together in groups and are assigned the task of researching the jobs and hobbies that are of the most interest to the entire group....
Curated OER
Fourth Grade Writing Lesson #1/ Narrative Prompt
Fourth graders produce narrative about a personal experience, with a focus on the trait of organization.
Curated OER
Using Children's Literature to Teach Writing: No, David!
Learners review beginning, middle, and end of a story and how details add to a story.
Curated OER
Staying on Topic: Select a Sentence
After reading sample paragraphs -- each with a topic sentence, conclusion, and 2 supporting details -- readers choose from among 3 possibilities another supporting sentence that fits the topic at hand. Only 2 examples are given, so this...
Curated OER
Creating Summaries
Fourth graders generate written summaries from non-fiction articles. In this writing lesson, 4th graders determine what must be included in writing a good summary and then work in small groups to construct summaries after reading...
Curated OER
You Decide: Roanoke the Lost Colony
Students develop an idea about what happened at the Lost Colony of Roanoke. In this Roanoke Colony lesson, students examine associated vocabulary before listening to Roanoke The Lost Colony, An Unsolved Mystery from History by Jane...