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Writing Strategies ~ 6+1
Traits of Writing by Ruth Culham
Owen & Mzee is a wonderful and touching book about
friendship, resilience, diversity, and so much more. Focusing on 6+1
writing, this book best lends itself to the traits of organization
and voice. The organization of this book was very well planned. It
uses logical order for the events that took place before bringing
Owen and Mzee together. Each page also includes great examples of
closing sentences and the information on each page directly
correlates with the pictures. The trait of voice is also apparent in
this book, with the author’s ability to reach out and evoke feeling.
Not only does Owen & Mzee teach about the great friendship
between a hippo and a tortoise, but also tells of the journey the
author and his daughter went through in creating this book. Writing
ideas for these traits are provided in K-2 and 3-5 lessons. The
grade level standards for these lessons are included below the
lessons. This book also has several vocabulary words that may need
to be previewed before beginning the writing lessons. The unfamiliar
vocabulary words are listed.
K-2 lesson for the trait of organization:
E
– How can I organize ideas for my writing?
A
– Show mixed up
pictures of Owen and Mzee
(cut out and attached to board) above the blank
flowchart. Ask students to predict what they think might be
going on in the pictures. Read the book Owen & Mzee and then
have students work together to arrange pictures into correct order.
T
– Use pictures to review what Owen went through and retell by adding
a sentence to each picture in the graphic organizer. Group students
and assign each group a picture in which to add a sentence. Share
sentences in chronological order.
S
– Copy the sentence from the
summarizing sheet on the board and discuss it whole group to
complete the sentence together.
3-5 lesson for the trait of organization:
E
– How can I organize ideas for my writing?
A
– Group students and give each group an envelope containing the
mixed up
pictures of Owen and Mzee (cut apart). Have groups examine the
pictures and predict a summary of the events in one sentence. Have
groups share their sentences. Read the book Owen & Mzee.
T
– Give each group a blank
graphic organizer and review chronological order. Groups should
then work together to put the pictures in chronological order and
add them to the organizer. For each picture, have groups add one
informational sentence. Have groups share these.
S
– Hand out
summarizing sheets for students to complete.
K-2 lesson for the trait of voice:
E
– How can voice come through in my writing?
A
– Show the
animated video of Owen and Mzee (from the website, click on “The
Documentary” and the “Hipposode 1”). Discuss how this video adds a
voice to the animals, which can also add the trait of voice in
writing. Read the book Owen & Mzee.
T
– Hand out
RAFTS organizer and explain that students will be adding a voice
to Owen by writing a thank you card from him to his rescuers. Also
show the
rubric to inform students of what needs to be included. Have
students create cards.
S
– Break students into small groups. Ask students, “Voice is what you
speak with, but what is voice in writing?” Have them discuss the
answer to this in their small groups as you rotate to check for
understanding.
3-5 lesson for the trait of voice:
E
– How can voice come through in my writing?
A
- Show the
animated video
of Owen and Mzee (from the website, click on “The
Documentary” and the “Hipposode 1”). Discuss how this video adds a
voice to the animals. Ask students what the trait of voice means in
writing and discuss. Read the book Owen & Mzee.
T
– Hand out
RAFTS organizer and explain that students will be adding a voice
to Owen by writing a letter from him to his caretakers, persuading
them to leave him with Mzee. Also hand out the
rubric to inform students of the letter requirements. Have
students write letters.
S
– Hand out sticky notes to students and have them answer the
question, “What is voice in writing?” Have students share and check
for understanding.
Bonus Material:
1) The relationship between Owen and Mzee easily relates to the
relationship between Shrek and Donkey in the movie Shrek. Show the
movie trailer as an activator. Lower grades can use the
graphic organizer to compare and contrast these two
relationships. Upper grades can use the
double bubble map. To extend, students could write based on the
information from the organizers, using the
lower grades rubric or the
upper grades rubric.
2) After reading the book and discussing this amazing relationship,
show
other animal relationship pictures to the students. Use pictures
as writing prompts for students to write creative stories.
3) There is now a sequel to this book, entitled Owen & Mzee: The
Language of Friendship. Read it with your students to get a
better idea of their life now. Your students could possibly write
letters, as a follow up, to Haller Park for more information on Owen
and Mzee.
View the correlating Standards
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