Having read and discussed Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle, third graders demonstrate their bullfrog expertise by writing informational paragraphs. Building on the note-taking and paragraph planning from the previous lesson plan, learners...

In a two-part instructional activity, fourth graders are first assessed on their ability to produce an explanatory paragraph and then participate in a gallery walk, presenting their final constitution paragraphs to their peers. To...

Following up their writing of a school constitution, fourth graders prepare to write a paragraph explaining the document to their peers. After looking at two writing samples, the teacher assists learners in developing their own criteria...

Lesson ten in this unit for the book Bullfrogs at Magnolia Circle, prepares third graders to begin writing an informational paragraph about the adaptations of bullfrogs. First, young writers work either independently or in pairs to...

What is life like for an Iroquois boy living in modern times? The book, Eagle Song, is the vehicle for learners to explore the development of the main character, Danny Bigtree. This is the final assessment for a larger unit in which...

Practice writing paragraphs with this scaffolded worksheet. The "hamburger" model is used on the second page, following some examples and guided practice on the first page. Give beginning writers concrete, tangible support as they embark...

Compare and contrast folktales with a lesson plan that spotlights three commonalities among those from different cultures. A whole-class discussion about folktales leads the way to a group activity that challenges scholars to read...

Scholars reflect upon their reading strengths and challenges to create personal reading goals. Participants use goal-setting verbiage in an accordion-style graphic organizer, a first step in writing a letter that details their reading...

Scholars ponder the beliefs of Confucianism. After reading several sayings made by Confucius, participants complete a chart filling in what each saying means using their own words. Using the same quotes split in half, pairs match...

When it comes to teaching writing, it helps to start small. A supplementary guide to A Writer's Guide to Powerful Paragraphs provides suggested activities to help writers craft a variety of paragraphs. Each assignment covers a specific...

There's no set length for a good paragraph, but the short block of text should contain key components. A handout on paragraphs, the 12th in a series of 24, outlines a five-step process for paragraph development. Additionally, the handout...

This lesson is so beneficial it makes any teacher's heart skip a beat! After readers identify words from Words by Heart, they break down unknown vocabulary with a handout detailing various prefixes and suffixes. Once they finish...

What better way to write in fall than with fall-themed writing paper? Use a set of lined papers to get you started.

Examine informational text with a three-page worksheet that focuses on taking notes, identifying the main idea, and locating supporting details in order to form a summary paragraph. 

Creating substitute plans may not be the highlight of your workday. Make the task less daunting with a general, day-long plan covering math, reading, word work, and writing. 

An engaging and quick presentation on writing topic sentences is sure to grab the attention of your elementary writers. The PowerPoint can be modified and includes relevant visual examples.

Before writing a narrative paragraph, map it out! Provide writers with a graphic organizer to help plan a descriptive paragraph. The prompt looks closely at the beginning, middle, and end, specifically the topic sentence, details, and a...

What does is take to be a role model? Through grand conversation, and the use of books and a graphic organizer, scholars find out and apply the requirements to identify a role model within their family. They then journey through the...

Intrigue learners by showing them that they can help save the planet—using math! Participants evaluate environmental data presented in tables and graphs. They must use the data to write a newspaper article in order to share the...

Everyone has an opinion, but the trick is figuring out how to argue a position with purpose and logic. Guide scholars to answer the question, What is argumentative writing? with activities that include brainstorming ideas, holding a...

Identifying the main idea of a text can be tricky. Support your instruction, and give tips and tricks to reinforce the concept, by showing a fun BrainPop Jr. video about main ideas and supporting details.

It's time to do some body building with the fourth lesson of this series on persuasive writing. After creating a thesis statement and brainstorming supporting ideas and details, young writers begin creating the body of their...

It's important that writers leave their readers with a strong and satisfying conclusion. Help your young writers develop the skills to compose a concluding sentence with the steps outlined here. After class members have had a chance to...

Revision is an important part of the writing process. Focus on revising topic sentences and details with the plan described here. This is part of a unit, so pupils have already filled out a graphic organizer about traveling libraries...