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Writing Idea #1: Growing a Word Tree
Summary of Activity: Students will go to a place of their choice to find words that inspire them. They will write the words on separate sheets of paper, and will create their own word tree using the words that they found. After they have created their word tree, they will use some of the words to create a story of their own.
Rationale: This activity will be beneficial for students to complete because it allows them to look for inspiration in the world around them. It will also increase their word recognition skills because they are writing words down that they may have never written before. Finally, this activity allows students to use their imagination to create a story using the words that they have collected.
Common Core Standards:
Level of Bloom's Taxonomy: This activity addresses the synthesis level of Bloom's Taxonomy. Synthesis is the ability to put parts together to form a new whole. In this activity, the students are taking the words that they have found to create a story of their own. The learning outcomes of this area stress creative behaviors. This activity allows students to be creative by finding words that inspire them, and by writing a new story using the words from their word trees.
Rationale: This activity will be beneficial for students to complete because it allows them to look for inspiration in the world around them. It will also increase their word recognition skills because they are writing words down that they may have never written before. Finally, this activity allows students to use their imagination to create a story using the words that they have collected.
Common Core Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.3: Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.1b: Use common, proper, and possessive nouns.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.2e: Spell untaught words phonetically, drawing on phonemic awareness and spelling conventions.
Level of Bloom's Taxonomy: This activity addresses the synthesis level of Bloom's Taxonomy. Synthesis is the ability to put parts together to form a new whole. In this activity, the students are taking the words that they have found to create a story of their own. The learning outcomes of this area stress creative behaviors. This activity allows students to be creative by finding words that inspire them, and by writing a new story using the words from their word trees.
Writing Idea #2: Writing Advice for Rocket
Summary of Activity: Students will pretend that they are Rocket's teacher, and will have to think of one piece of advice that they would give Rocket to help him write his story. After they have thought of an idea, they will print off a worksheet, where the student can color the little yellow bird, and write the piece of advice in a speech bubble.
Rationale: This activity will be beneficial for students to complete because they have to analyze the information in the book to come up with a piece of advice. After the students have thought of the idea, they can then use their own advice when writing. This is a fun, creative activity for students to complete that will help expand their knowledge of writing.
Common Core Standards:
Level of Bloom's Taxonomy: This activity addresses the analysis level of Bloom's Taxonomy. Analysis is the ability to break down material into its component parts. This activity allows students to analyze the information in the book to create a piece of writing advice for Rocket. Learning outcomes at this level represent a higher level of intellectual thinking that requires an understanding of the content of the material. This book offers writing advice without explicitly stating it. For example, in the book it says, "He wrote words down and crossed words out." This passage tells readers that it is important to edit and revise your story. This activity allows students to form a deeper understanding of the book.
Rationale: This activity will be beneficial for students to complete because they have to analyze the information in the book to come up with a piece of advice. After the students have thought of the idea, they can then use their own advice when writing. This is a fun, creative activity for students to complete that will help expand their knowledge of writing.
Common Core Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.2: Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.8: With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.5: Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.2d: Use conventional spelling for words with common spelling patterns and for frequently occurring irregular words.
Level of Bloom's Taxonomy: This activity addresses the analysis level of Bloom's Taxonomy. Analysis is the ability to break down material into its component parts. This activity allows students to analyze the information in the book to create a piece of writing advice for Rocket. Learning outcomes at this level represent a higher level of intellectual thinking that requires an understanding of the content of the material. This book offers writing advice without explicitly stating it. For example, in the book it says, "He wrote words down and crossed words out." This passage tells readers that it is important to edit and revise your story. This activity allows students to form a deeper understanding of the book.
Writing Idea #3: Letter to Rocket
Summary of Activity: Students will write Rocket a friendly letter congratulating him on writing his first story. Students are encouraged to write about their favorite part of the story, things that inspire them to write, experiences that they have with writing, any questions that they may have for Rocket, etc.
Rationale: This activity is beneficial for students to complete because it allows students to evaluate, and give their opinions of the story. It also gives students an opportunity to experience with a different form of writing. Most students don't have experience writing in a letter format, so this activity will help students realize that there are many different forms and styles of writing.
Common Core Standards:
Level of Bloom's Taxonomy: This activity addresses the evaluation level of Bloom's Taxonomy. Evaluation is the ability to judge the value of material for a given purpose. This activity allows students to evaluate this story, and choose a favorite part of the story to write about in the letter. Learning outcomes in this area are highest in the cognitive hierarchy because they contain elements of all the other categories, plus conscious value judgments based on clearly defined criteria. The activity allows students to make their own judgments of the story, and allows them to clearly express their feelings to Rocket.
Rationale: This activity is beneficial for students to complete because it allows students to evaluate, and give their opinions of the story. It also gives students an opportunity to experience with a different form of writing. Most students don't have experience writing in a letter format, so this activity will help students realize that there are many different forms and styles of writing.
Common Core Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.1: Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.1: Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.1c: Ask questions to clear up any confusion about the topics and texts under discussion.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.4: Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.
Level of Bloom's Taxonomy: This activity addresses the evaluation level of Bloom's Taxonomy. Evaluation is the ability to judge the value of material for a given purpose. This activity allows students to evaluate this story, and choose a favorite part of the story to write about in the letter. Learning outcomes in this area are highest in the cognitive hierarchy because they contain elements of all the other categories, plus conscious value judgments based on clearly defined criteria. The activity allows students to make their own judgments of the story, and allows them to clearly express their feelings to Rocket.