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Writing Strategies ~ 6+1
Traits of Writing by Ruth Culham
Focus Trait: IDEAS
Support Trait (Secondary Trait): WORD CHOICE
This book follows the trait of ideas. Part of the trait of idea
development is to write about what we know and make it interesting.
This book and this writing assignment both aim to further that idea.
DAY 1:
1. Hook:
Brainstorm/discuss with children things that they
have ever imagined before. You can also brainstorm things that are
imaginary or have been imaginary to the children. (you can do
this with a web, chart, graphic organizer, partner share, etc)
*Examples of things that may be imaginary to children (pet rock,
animals that talk, having no homework, etc.)
2.
Read aloud/Introduce Ted. This story is about a lovable and
IMAGINARY friend who thinks of fun and fabulous things to do with a
lonely boy. As you are reading to the children, be sure to ask
students what the author has done well in writing this story.
(Creative word choice and an
imaginary friend to turn simple kids experiences into amazing
adventures…You can also point out the author’s artwork in the
story…It makes the adventures come alive!)
3.
Talk with your students about the many adventures Ted takes the boy
on and whether any of your students have ever done something
similar. (YOU CAN TIE IN MAKING
CONNECTIONS HERE TOO!) You can write these ideas/adventures
on chart paper to refer back to as the students begin their writing.
Share with your class an adventure you had as a young child and how
your adventure may have been even better if you had an imaginary
friend like Ted!
Day 2:
Introduce writing topic/Pre-Write
1.
Have your students think about something they did as a young child
that they think is funny (a story they was told about them or
something they would like to do if they could). Tell them to think
about how the event would have been even funnier with an imaginary
friend at their side to take the blame or inspire the idea in the
first place! Make a class brainstorm of ordinary, every-day events
that they can base their extra-ordinary stories on.
2.
Tell the children their job is going to be to write about an
imaginary or real adventure they had with an imaginary friend, like
Ted. PASS OUT GRAPHIC ORGANIZER or
brainstorming their ideas. These are some of the things they
children should be thinking about as they fill out the graphic
organizer (Who or what is this imaginary person? What is his/her
name? What do they look like? What is their personality like? What
do we do together?) All of this can be found on the organizer.
3.
Pass out the RAFT sheet to show the
students what their topic will be that they are writing about. Go
over and discuss the RAFT format.
Brief overview of the topic:
* TOPIC: The writer will, first, create an original imaginary
friend, inspired by Ted from Tony DiTerlizzi’s wonderful picture
book. The writer will then think of an ordinary activity (feeding
the dog, eating breakfast, etc) but he/she will pretend that the
activity is being done with the imaginary friend that has been
created.
* The trait by trait emphasis from this writing prompt and lesson is
idea development; an original and
detailed-filled story is what the students are encouraged to create.
The support trait is word choice. Have the students look at
the author’s creative word choice and encourage them to use the same
technique.
Day 3- Begin drafting
1.
Have the children have out their RAFT format paper as well as their
graphic organizer to be able to refer back to the many ideas they
came up with.
2. Tell the children today they will get to take some ordinary
activity from their own life and turn in into an adventure. It will
become an adventure because they will write about their activity as
though they are doing it with an imaginary friend. AND…they get to
make up their own imaginary friend!
3. Have the children go through the writing process to complete this
activity.
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