Present the class with a slide show that will give them a great head start in writing expository and narrative texts. The information is highlighted for easy note taking, well organized, and presented in a kid-friendly manner. It...

"A weak conclusion leaves the reader with an unfinished argument." Don't let your young writers fall into this trap! This is a great method for writing a concluding paragraph to an argumentative essay, which includes summarizing the main...

Introduce middle school scientists to scientific variables and the scientific method with a musical video. The song is a delightful parody of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." It belts out the definitions of controlled,...

A Six-Trait Writing instructional activity helps your middle schoolers liven up their word choice and shows them how to evaluate their own writing. Class members take a close look at the language used in poems by Shakespeare, Kipling,...

Prepare for a wild ride on the plot roller coaster! Budding authors outline their novel plots through this set of visual and entertaining worksheets. They follow the story of Boris the Unicorn, which demonstrates the various stages of a...

A comprehensive and immersive series of lessons that examines various aspects of story development leads learners into writing a narrative of their own. Writers develop an understanding of the writing process as they use the learning...

Design an informational brochure to urge people to move to a specific community. The purpose of this activity is to expose pupils to expository writing. After creating the brochure, they write a three-paragraph persuasive or...

Bring social studies to life! This interdisciplinary lesson plan has young writers tell the story of the migration of diverse groups of people to the United States. Pupils view the work of selected choreographers and discuss how dance...

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...

Make sure your writers have the buns and the meat in their paragraph burgers with paragraph exercises. The resource gradually leads up to individuals writing their own paragraphs, starting with identification exercises, moving on to a...

Print out this handy reference page double sided and distribute it to your class. Individuals can use the page to aid them as they work on their topic sentences, transitions, conclusions, and paragraph structure. There is plenty of...

Encourage your class to revise their writing and check over their work by requiring them to complete an organization checklist. The checklist, created specifically for a accordion-style essay, asks writers to look over their formatting,...

Once fourth graders reach the end of their research paper, have them end on a high note with a video about conclusions. At just under five minutes, the video is a short and effective way to help sure kids wrap up their writing. Their...

Round out an explanatory essay with a lesson dedicated to writing the conclusion. This is the fifth of a six part series that walks through several of the major steps of writing an informational essay. After a brief review of what's been...

Writing a persuasive argument starts with a clear thesis. Using this resource, your class will write a persuasive paper on a conservation issue. They will then transform their argument into a 30-second public service announcement. If...

Review the components of a well-written paragraph with your class. Be sure your writers include a topic sentence supported with main ideas and followed by a conclusion. Unity, coherence, and transition words are emphasized. Experiment...

Review the characteristics of a great process paragraph! Display the need for unity, transitions, and parts of a paragraph with the models included in this PowerPoint. After a first run through (with a model), use a student example to...

How can you get others to agree with your point of view? This packet focuses on employing persuasive strategies and how to write descriptively. There's a writing sample provided, and a great graphic organizer. Use these tools to help...

Budding authors research a US President and persuade the National Park Service to add him to Mt. Rushmore. In addition to the persuasive essay, individuals are required to develop a visual presentation using a web-based software that...

Provide your essay writers with a sample essay outline. Richly detailed, this two-page handout not only describes the necessary parts of an outline, but also explains the purpose of each section. A model outline is also included.

Help your middle schoolers respond to literature by using this literary critique lesson. They will discover critique strategies as they employ their knowledge of literary elements to role-play the part of a literary critic reviewing a...

Middle schoolers identify writing techniques in example stories with this story structure instructional activity. After reading the book The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, they find the differences between it and the original...

An effective argument must be backed up with supporting details and facts. Sixth graders use The True Story of the Three Little Pigs to formulate a personal opinion of the wolf's portrayal of the events. They compose a persuasive letter...

Are you the oldest in your family? The youngest? The middlest? How do you feel about your place in your family? After reading such stories as My Rotten, Redheaded Older Brother by Patricia Polacco and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by...