7th Grade Creative Writing Centers

Use this Close Reading for students to learn about the National Road(also called the Cumberland Road or the National Pike Road). There are several comprehension questions and fun facts. Additionally, there are lots of extension activities especially writing in the content area.

The Close reading and review would be one period. If you do some of the extension activities, the resource could take a couple of days.

Additional Resources on this topic:

1. Use this reading passage(and extension activities) to learn about the Santa Fe Trail and specifically Wind Wagon Thomas. As people were beginning to travel west by covered wagon along the plains of the Santa Fe Trail, William Thomas, had a most unusual idea. The average trip along the Santa Fe Trail took about eight weeks! He envisioned prairie schooners with sails that could move across the plains on wind-power much faster than wagons hitched to horses. https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Santa-Fe-Trail-Wind-Wagon-ThomasReading-Passage-5934650

2. If you are studying Westward Expansion and pioneers, specifically the Oregon Trail, this informative Reader's Theater Script will be a positive addition to your lessons. Based on a true person, the play is about one of first woman to go on the Oregon Trail. Narcissa Whitman kept a journal of her trip. She and her husband(and Henry and Eliza Spalding) left upstate New York for Independence, Missouri(most popular starting point) for their journey along the Oregon Trail to Oregon, where Marcus and Narcissa would become missionaries. The play, packed with lots of information, is one of my Ms. Bie Ografee playsseries, includes a Did You Know? fun fact section, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extension activities.https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Oregon-Trail-A-Visit-with-a-PioneerNarcissa-Whitman-Readers-Theater-Script-6034419?st=c229610a8da62f93976e3ae1695006df

Bring Thanksgiving fun to your classroom with these easy, step-by-step directed drawings! Students can follow along to draw seasonal favorites like an acorn, piece of pie, turkey, turkey leg, squash, and a festive place setting. Designed to inspire creativity and enhance writing time, this pack makes it easy for students to add their drawings to writing projects, keeping them excited and engaged.

What's Included:

• 6 Thanksgiving/Fall-Themed Directed Drawings (Acorn, Pie, Turkey, Turkey Leg, Squash, Place Setting)
• Choice of Line Styles: Standard, Primary, or Drawing
• Large Cards
• Journal Strips for Easy Use in Notebooks or on Rings

Engage your students this Thanksgiving season with easy, step-by-step directed drawing pages! This Thanksgiving pack includes guided drawing sheets for creating holiday images like an acorn, piece of pie, turkey, turkey leg, squash, and a place setting. Students can use these drawings to spark ideas for writing and storytelling, making it a perfect addition to writing centers or independent activities.

Perfect For:

• Writer's Workshop & Creative Writing
• Independent Work & Centers
• Early Finishers & Homework
• Journal or Ring-Bound Use
• Sub Plans

With primary and standard-lined pages as well as journal strips, this pack provides versatile options for every classroom setup. Use it to boost students' creativity while encouraging them to express themselves through both drawing and writing!

Keywords: Thanksgiving directed drawing, step-by-step Thanksgiving drawing, Thanksgiving drawing activities, primary lined drawing pages, Thanksgiving writing prompts, drawing and writing centers, Thanksgiving journal strips

Spark Your Students' Creativity with These Engaging Templates!

This resource offers 7 fun and engaging narrative writing templates to inspire your students' imaginations.

What's Included:

• 7 Narrative Writing Templates: A variety of templates to spark different writing styles and genres.

Benefits:

• Engaging and Fun: The templates provide a structured framework for writing while allowing for creativity.
• Improves Writing Skills: Helps students develop their storytelling abilities, vocabulary, and grammar.
• Sparks Imagination: Encourages students to think outside the box and explore different genres.
• Promotes Critical Thinking: Challenges students to analyze characters, plot, and setting.

Don't forget to share with me how it went with your little ones. I hope it was useful in your classroom.

If you like this product, follow my store -Mettry Teaches- for more.

An engaging prompt that sets the stage for a hilarious Thanksgiving adventure! The star of the show? A turkey determined to escape its fate! Students will use their creativity to craft a narrative about the turkey's daring escape, the chaos it leaves behind, and the potential consequences (or maybe even a happy ending!)

Make it interesting!

• How did the turkey manage to escape the Thanksgiving dinner table?
• Describe the turkey's journey after escaping. Did it encounter any obstacles or helpful allies?
• What happens to the characters back at the Thanksgiving table? Are they surprised, disappointed, or perhaps secretly relieved?
• Will the turkey reach freedom, or will it be captured (with a twist, perhaps)?

What to do in class?

1. Set the Scene: Introduce the "The Great Gobbler Getaway" prompt and discuss the elements of a strong narrative, such as plot, characters, setting, and a clear beginning, middle, and end.
2. Brainstorming Bonanza: Encourage students to brainstorm ideas for their narratives. They can sketch scenes, jot down character details, and plan the escape route for their feathery friend.
3. Gobble Gobble Write! Students put pen to paper and craft their Thanksgiving escape stories.
4. Sharing Time! Students can share their hilarious and creative narratives with the class, sparking laughter and imagination.

⭐Math Thanksgiving: Equivalent Fractions Turkey**⭐**

⭐Journey to the center of the Earth narrative/descriptive: Earth Layers**⭐**

⭐Christmas narrative writing: Trapped in a Snow Globe**⭐**

Don't forget to share with me how it went with your little ones. I hope it was useful in your classroom.

If you like this product, follow my store -Mettry Teaches- for more.

Calling all reformed villains! This holiday season, ditch the coal and rewrite your story. This activity allows students to use their imagination and persuasive writing skills to convince Santa Claus they deserve a spot on the nice list!

What's Included:

• Reformed Villain Graphic Organizer: Help students brainstorm and visualize their villainous character and their path to redemption.
• Persuasive Letter to Santa Template: Provide a structured format for students to craft their convincing arguments.
• List of Infamous Villains: Offer inspiration and a starting point for character selection.

⭐Want more writing for Christmas?⭐

Trapped in a Snow Globe | Narrative Writing

Who Will Guide The Sleigh | Persuasive Writing**⭐**

⭐Thanksgiving narrative writing: How the Turkey Escaped Thanksgiving Dinner**⭐**

⭐Journey to the center of the Earth narrative/descriptive: Earth Layers**⭐**

Don't forget to share with me how it went with your little ones. I hope it was useful in your classroom.

If you like this product, follow my store -Mettry Teaches- for more.

• 10 Winter Holiday Narrative Essay Picture Prompts & Planner: Engage students in narrative writing with holiday-themed picture prompts and a structured planner to develop plot, character, and setting in alignment with creative writing standards.
• Christmas Hip Hop Lyrics Analysis: Teach figurative language, rhyme schemes, and tone through an engaging analysis of hip hop lyrics, blending music and ELA standards for Grades 6-8.
• St. Nick: Informational Text Structures: Explore main ideas, text structures, and author’s purpose with this winter-themed set of informational texts designed to strengthen critical reading skills.
• Unraveling Krampus: Text Structures and Critical Analysis: Develop students’ ability to identify text structures and analyze information critically with this high-interest resource focused on the Krampus folklore.
• Informational Text Structure Coloring Sort: Combine creativity and learning as students sort and color-code winter-themed informational texts to practice identifying text structures.
• Winter Wonders: Exploring Text Features Through Snow-Themed Articles: Strengthen comprehension and analysis skills by examining text features in engaging snow-themed articles, perfect for enhancing nonfiction literacy.
• Christmas Winter Holiday Characters from Around the World Research PBL: Dive into global holiday traditions with this project-based learning activity that encourages research, critical thinking, and presentation skills.
• Holiday Figurative Language & Movie Clip Standard-Based Learning Activities: Analyze figurative language through fun, holiday-themed movie clips that align with ELA figurative language standards for middle schoolers.
• Virtual Winter Sports Exploration: Engage students in a digital exploration of winter sports, focusing on informational text comprehension and analysis for Grades 4-6.
• Analyzing Narrative Point of View Winter-Themed: Develop higher-order thinking with winter-themed narrative texts that challenge students to analyze and compare points of view using Bloom’s Taxonomy.
• Winter Vacation PBL: Inspire creativity and practical application with this low-prep, project-based learning activity where stude

Craft the ultimate narrative writing journey for your students with our Seasonal Narrative Writing Bundle! This comprehensive collection is designed to spark creativity and enhance writing skills across grades 4-6 throughout the year. Each season brings a unique set of picture prompts that invite students into worlds of imagination, exploration, and storytelling.

Spring Picture Prompts: Dive into the renewal and wonders of spring with our Spring Picture Prompts resource. It features 23 engaging slides that guide students through the elements of a plot diagram, the importance of showing vs. telling, and offers 10 unique, spring-inspired photo prompts. Each image is paired with a comprehensive writing guide to brainstorm settings, characters, and conflicts, cultivating well-structured stories that bloom like the season.

Summer Picture Prompts: Turn up the heat on narrative writing with our Summer Picture Prompts toolkit. This sun-drenched resource walks students through the narrative writing process with warmth and adventure as their backdrop. From mysterious summer camps to beach escapades, the 10 vibrant, summer-themed photo prompts are sure to ignite the spark of creativity. In-depth writing guides accompany each prompt, ensuring students can craft captivating stories under the summer sun.

Winter Holiday Narrative Essay Picture Prompts: Cozy up to the winter season with 10 Winter Holiday Narrative Essay Picture Prompts. This festive resource is perfect for inspiring stories of winter wonderlands, holiday adventures, and heartwarming family traditions. With a focus on narrative essays, this print-and-go package includes planners and engaging slides that help students capture the essence of the winter season in their writing.

Autumn Narrative Essay Picture Prompts: Fall into storytelling with our Autumn Narrative Essay Picture Prompts. This collection captures the essence of fall with 10 autumn-inspired photo prompts, from the mystical to the mundane. Accompanied by a planner and print-and-go slides, it provides a seamless transition into autumnal narratives, encouraging students to explore the rich colors, themes, and emotions of the season.

Narrative Essay Planning Guide with Engaging Picture Prompts: Lay the foundation for effective storytelling with our Narrative Essay Planning Guide. This essential resource is packed with engaging picture prompts that cover various themes and settings, making it a versatile tool for any narrative writing activity. It includes a planning guide to help students structure their stories, focusing on character development, setting, and plot, ensuring a deep and engaging writing experience.

This bundle offers a year-round solution to narrative writing, equipping educators with everything needed to foster creativity, enhance writing skills, and teach critical writing concepts in an engaging and adaptable format. Whether used for creative writing classes, homework assignments, or extension activities, these resources provide a gateway to imagination and critical thinking that will keep students engaged and excited about writing all year long.

Elements of Suspense Lesson Plan (Grades 6-8)

Description:
Dive into the spine-tingling world of suspense with this engaging lesson plan! Students will analyze the key elements of suspense—pacing, foreshadowing, red herrings, danger, and more—through guided notes, interactive activities, and media examples like film trailers. This resource is perfect for Halloween or any time you want to keep your students on the edge of their seats. Ideal for introducing or reviewing the genre of suspense.

Elements of Dystopia Lesson Plan (Grades 6-8)

Description:
Welcome to the dark side of fiction with this comprehensive dystopian literature lesson. Students will explore themes like totalitarian regimes, environmental disasters, survival, and rebellion. Using multimedia examples and text excerpts, students will analyze how these elements create powerful dystopian worlds. This resource is perfect for introducing dystopian fiction or as a review of the genre, making it a great fit for discussions on social justice or government control.

Elements of Science Fiction Lesson Plan (Grades 6-8)

Description:
Blast off into the universe of science fiction! This lesson plan introduces students to the exciting elements of sci-fi, including futuristic technology, space exploration, time travel, alien life, and parallel universes. Students will analyze these elements through guided notes, multimedia, and text excerpts. Whether you're teaching the genre for the first time or reviewing it with your class, this resource is out of this world!

Elements of Fantasy Lesson Plan (Grades 6-8)

Description:
Step into magical realms with this enchanting lesson plan on the elements of fantasy. Students will explore key components such as world-building, magical systems, mythical creatures, quests, and good vs. evil. Using guided notes and multimedia, students will be transported into the fantastical worlds of dragons, wizards, and epic quests. This resource is perfect for immersing students in the magic of fantasy fiction, sparking their imaginations and developing their literary analysis skills.

Elements of Mystery Lesson Plan (Grades 6-8)

Introduce your students to the mystery genre with this 60-minute, print-and-go lesson plan that includes everything you need to kick off a mystery unit! This engaging lesson features guided notes, teacher slides, a one-page mystery story, and answer keys. Students will explore key mystery elements, such as clues, suspects, and red herrings, and apply their knowledge by solving the included mystery. Perfect for grades 6-8, this resource makes it easy to teach critical thinking and deduction skills while introducing a fun and interactive genre.

Elevate your middle school students' narrative writing skills with this winter-themed essay planning guide. This resource features 10 captivating, holiday-themed photos, ranging from a snowman on the beach to a gingerbread family on the run, Krampus enjoying hot chocolate, and a pirate ship bathed in green holiday lights. These images are perfect for sparking creativity and guiding students through the narrative writing process.

Learning Objectives:

• Enhance the ability to plan and draft a narrative story that is both engaging and imaginative.
• Encourage creativity while ensuring narratives encompass all essential elements of a structured narrative text.

What's Inside:

• 10 double sided planning guides, one for each photo!
• Detailed graphic organizers to assist students in exploring the setting, characters, conflict, and resolution.
• A Google Slides presentation featuring each high-interest photo for classroom projection, facilitating the introduction of each new writing prompt.

How to Use:

• Day 1: Display the photo prompt using the slides and encourage students to brainstorm ideas with the graphic organizer.
• Day 2: Start drafting the narrative, drawing inspiration from the vivid image.
• Day 3: Continue the narrative, adding details and developing the storyline.
• Day 4: Conduct peer reviews or teacher feedback sessions, followed by revisions and editing.
• Day 5: Publish the final narrative piece, celebrating the students' creative achievements.

Standards Alignment:

• Aligned with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3 through W.8.3, ensuring the resource meets educational standards for narrative writing.

Formats Available:

• A ready-to-use PDF for printouts and a Google Slides version for seamless classroom integration.

Usage Scenario:

• Ideal for middle school teachers to use as a standalone writing unit, an extension activity, or as a part of a choice board for students.

Highlights:

• Engaging and diverse photo prompts: Each image is carefully chosen to resonate with middle school students, featuring themes like winter holidays, mythical creatures, adventure, and family.
• Classroom-ready: The Google Slides format allows for easy introduction of each writing prompt, while print-ready PDFs ensure quick and effortless preparation.

Transform your classroom's narrative writing approach with this captivating, standards-aligned essay planning guide. Watch as your students' imaginations soar with each unique and inspiring photo prompt!

Inspire your students to unleash their creativity with our Spring Picture Prompts narrative writing resource! Designed specifically for 4th to 6th graders, this dynamic tool walks students through every step of the writing process using the beauty and renewal of spring as a backdrop. From St. Patrick's Day to the wonders of a spring park, each photo prompt is a doorway to imagination and storytelling.

What’s Inside:

• 23 Engaging Slides: A visual journey that introduces students to the elements of a plot diagram, the critical difference between showing vs. telling, and 10 unique, spring-inspired photo prompts.
• 10 Spring-Inspired Photo Prompts: Carefully selected images that capture the essence of spring, ready to spark creativity in young writers.
• Comprehensive Writing Guides: Each photo prompt is accompanied by a 2-page planning guide to help students brainstorm settings, characters, and conflicts, laying the foundation for well-structured stories.
• Show vs. Tell Examples: Clear, accessible examples to teach students how to bring their stories to life, making their writing more engaging and vivid.

Perfect For:

• ☑️ Creative Writing Classes
• ☑️ Choice Boards
• ☑️ Extension Activities
• ☑️ Writing Units
• ☑️ Homework Assignments

Why You'll Love It:

• ☑️ Fosters Creativity: Encourages students to think creatively, developing unique narratives based on intriguing picture prompts.
• ☑️ Enhances Writing Skills: Guides students through the narrative writing process, from brainstorming to publishing, enhancing their writing skills.
• ☑️ Teaches Critical Writing Concepts: Offers a hands-on approach to understanding and applying key writing concepts like plot development and descriptive writing.
• ☑️ Flexible & Adaptable: Use it for a week-long writing project, a single class period, or as part of a larger unit. It’s designed to fit your needs!
• ☑️ Print & Go Convenience: Everything you need is at your fingertips, ready to be printed or shared digitally, saving you valuable preparation time.

Transform your classroom this spring with narratives that bloom as brightly as the season itself. Our Spring Picture Prompts resource is not just a set of activities; it's a gateway to imagination, critical thinking, and joyous writing. Whether you're diving into a creative writing unit, looking for a meaningful homework assignment, or seeking engaging extension activities, these picture prompts are your key to a vibrant writing experience.

Capture the essence of spring in your classroom. Add our Spring Picture Prompts to your teaching toolkit today and watch your students' writing flourish!

Brew up some spook-tacular writing skills with this engaging Witch's Brew Persuasive Writing Activity! Perfect for grades 6-8, this resource is designed to help students master the persuasive writing techniques of ethos, pathos, and logos—all while crafting their own witch’s brew! With creative potion designs, spooky ingredients, and persuasive advertisements, students will have a wickedly good time.

Whether you're introducing persuasive techniques for the first time or reviewing them, this activity is sure to enchant your class. Students will design their own magical potion, complete with eerie ingredients, a custom potion bottle, and a persuasive ad convincing others to buy their brew using ethos, pathos, and logos.

What's Included:

• Witch’s Brew Worksheet: A template for potion ingredients, potion bottle drawing, and persuasive ad writing using ethos, pathos, and logos.
• Persuasive Writing Techniques Slides: Clear, engaging slides introducing the three modes of persuasion.
• Guided Notes: Fill-in-the-blank notes to reinforce understanding of persuasive techniques.

Wickedly Good Benefits:

✔️ Creative & Fun: Combines creative potion-making with persuasive writing techniques.
✔️ No Prep: Ready-to-use worksheets, slides, and notes—just print and go!
✔️ Critical Thinking: Encourages students to think deeply about how to persuade their audience.
✔️ Versatile Use: Great for Halloween season or any time you want to add some magical flair to your writing lessons.
✔️ Engaging for Middle School: Keeps students motivated with fun, spooky elements while mastering important ELA skills.

Suggested Uses:

• Halloween Writing Activity: Perfect for adding spooky fun to your classroom.
• Persuasive Writing Unit: Use as an introduction or review of persuasive techniques (ethos, pathos, logos).
• Centers or Stations: Great for independent or group work in a literacy center.
• Extension Activity: Challenge students to create more complex ads for their potions.

Broom up some excitement in your classroom and let your students' creativity soar with this Witch’s Brew Persuasive Writing Activity—it’s sure to cast a spell on their writing skills!

Uncover the excitement of mystery writing with this engaging, print-and-go lesson plan!

Designed to introduce middle school students (grades 5-8) to the elements of the mystery genre, this comprehensive, 60-minute lesson plan is perfect for kicking off a new unit. With a focus on deduction, clue-finding, and critical thinking, students will explore the foundations of mystery stories in a fun and interactive way!

What’s Included:

• Guided Notes: Fill-in-the-blank format for easy comprehension and engagement as students learn the essential elements of a mystery.
• Teacher Slides: Ready-to-use slides that cover key elements such as crime, suspects, clues, red herrings, and more. Perfect for both in-person and virtual teaching!
• One-Page Mystery Story: "The Case of the Missing Trophy" is an original, age-appropriate mystery that encourages students to apply the elements they’ve learned to solve the case.
• Answer Keys: Complete with answers for the guided notes and mystery-solving tasks, making grading and discussion a breeze.
• Movie Trailer Activity: Includes a fun activity where students watch the Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase trailer and identify mystery elements.

Key Features:

• Print & Go: All materials are ready to use, requiring no prep time!
• Interactive & Engaging: Combines visual learning through slides, critical thinking with guided notes, and hands-on problem-solving with a mystery story.
• Assessment Included: Students are tasked with identifying the elements of a mystery using the provided story, with clear rubrics and answer keys.
• Flexible for Classroom Use: Adaptable for a wide range of students in grades 5-8, perfect for both in-person and remote learning.
• Builds Critical Thinking Skills: Encourages students to analyze evidence, question suspects, and solve a puzzle, preparing them for deeper reading comprehension.

Perfect For:

• Teachers introducing a new mystery unit.
• ELA classrooms looking for a fun and structured one-day lesson.
• Educators seeking an engaging, low-prep way to teach genre elements and get students excited about mystery stories.

Grab this engaging introduction to the mystery genre today, and watch your students become master detectives!

This packet includes 2 essay templates that are useful for students who are just beginning to write an essay or for students who are going to write a rough draft after brainstorming.

If you download this product and like it, please leave me a quick positive review! :)

As our Deaf/hard of hearing/ELL students are completing written assignments, little words/parts of speech that are commonly confused when writing such as is, are, was, were, have, had, do, did, the, and a are emphasized in this product. Students are provided with differences between each word, examples of each word used in a sentence, and students have the opportunity to write a sentence using each word.

You may also be interested in the following:

Deaf Education - ASL and English Nouns Vocabulary Workbook and Review

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-ASL-and-English-Nouns-Vocabulary-Workbook-and-Review-11627316

Deaf Education - ASL and English School Vocabulary Workbook and Review https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-ASL-and-English-School-Vocabulary-Workbook-and-Review-11598443

Deaf Education - ASL and English Emergency Vocabulary Workbook and Review https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-ASL-and-English-Emergency-Vocabulary-Workbook-and-Review-11598569

Deaf Education Story - American Sign Language Story - Signing with Oliver Story

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-Signing-with-Oliver-Story-Comprehension-Questions-9644791?st=6fcef4def38aa87698c354ddd3d464e4

Deaf Education - Writing Characters, Plot, and Setting Ideas

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-Writing-Characters-Setting-and-Plot-Ideas-8412888

Deaf Education Self Advocacy Social Stories

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-Self-Advocacy-Social-Stories-11060143

Quotation Marks in Dialogue:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Quotation-Marks-in-Dialogue-9295726

The Verb Be Practice, Review, and Examples:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-The-Verb-Be-Review-and-Examples-Adapted-8847436

Nouns in Sentences Practice, Review, and Examples:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-Using-Nouns-in-Sentences-Examples-and-Practice-9040549

Nouns Practice, Review, and Examples:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Nouns-Review-and-Examples-8721310

There, They're and Their Practice, Review, and Examples:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-There-Their-and-Theyre-Sentences--8748307

Common and Proper Nouns Practice, Review, and Examples: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Common-and-Proper-Nouns-Review-and-Examples-8721303

Writing Tips for Confusing Words:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-Writing-Tips-for-Confusing-Words-Adapted-8379619

Was and Were Sentences Practice, Review, and Examples:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-Was-and-Were-Sentences--8688582

Is and Are Sentences Practice, Review, and Examples:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Is-and-Are-Sentences-8681478

Characters Settings, and Plot Ideas for Writing:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-Characters-Setting-and-Plot-Ideas-Writing-8412888

Singular and Plural Nouns Practice, Review, and Examples:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Deaf-Education-Singular-and-Plural-Noun-Sentences-Booklet-7905461

If you download this product and like it, please leave me a positive review! :)

Writing a story about a snowman is fun project for your students to show their creativity. This product includes information to share with your students about what a story is, what is shared in a story, who the audience can be, what is the author's purpose for writing a story, and how the story can be published. This product includes two story ideas, an example of one snowman story is outlined on a brainstorming template, and a final draft of the snowman story is included in this product. Templates are included after the example along with a rough draft/final draft template and reminder checklist so students remember to go back and check their work once it is completed.

You may also be interested in the following:

The Luck of the Irish 2001 Movie Comprehension Questions

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Luck-of-the-Irish-2001-Movie-Comprehension-Questions-11216329

St. Patrick's Day Mindfulness Activity

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Mindfulness-Activity-10929187

St. Patrick's Day Mindfulness Writing Activities:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Mindfulness-Writing-Prompts-11038141

Spring Writing Template and Example:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Spring-Writing-Example-and-Template-11381047

Valentine's Day Mindfulness File Folder Activity

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Valentines-Day-Mindfulness-Activity-10928662

Valentine's Day Mindfulness Writing Prompts:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Valentines-Day-Mindfulness-Writing-Prompts-10970766

Winter File Folder Activity

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Winter-File-Folder-Game-10800710

Winter Writing Example and Template:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Winter-Writing-Example-and-Template-10773667

Winter Journal:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Winter-Journal-10772686

Students roll the dice to unravel a magical and exciting tapestry of settings, protagonists, antagonists, conflicts, and Christmas-themed elements, igniting creativity and narrative fluency! Perfect for narrative writing units, centers, daily writing, public speaking practice, winter centers, Fun Friday, and more!

What's Included

• A PowerPoint with 1 unique board
• 1 editable Roll a Story Board
• A QR code on the storyboard that leads to digital dice (so no dice needed, just devices!)
• Vocabulary page
• Writing page

Story Elements

• Setting (examples: Santa’sHeadquarters, town where it is always Christmas, Elves on the Shelves protest rally)

• Protagonists (examples: reindeer with a fear of heights, snowman that came to life, a character who is turned into an elf)

• Conflict (examples: is hypnotized by, is kidnapped by, is bullied by)

• Antagonists (examples: Santa detective on a mission to find Santa, reindeer rights activist, Sentient full-size gingerbread house with attitude)

• Christmas Elements (examples: magical snow globe, curse where the entire town can’t stop dancing to Christmas music, snow machine that makes the world snow when pressed)

Got reluctant writers? This resource bundle will get your students excited for narrative writing and spark all sorts of creative ideas. To begin, practice the concept of Show, Don't Tell with a quick activity that gets kids communicating, collaborating, and thinking critically about using strong details in creative writing stories. It feels like a game, but it isn't!

Then, students work together to build a story from scratch, first selecting a character and a conflict, before selecting cards for sensory details (see, hear, smell, taste, touch), dialogue, and emotions. The word cards act as a word bank, giving kids a starting place to work from. Kids can use the SWBST summarization tools to help plan out their storyline. With the support of peers, students physically plan and orally rehearse their story multiple times before committing the storyline to paper. Kids can switch stories and use their SWBST tools to summarize another team's story, allowing the young authors and readers to compare and contrast how the story may have changed from the planning to the actual writing or publication stage. These three resources are all you need for hours of creative writing fun.

In my own classroom, I used the Show, Don't Tell writing activity to teach the concept of elaboration. Several days later, we used the character, conflict, and sensory detail cards to develop a story of our own. I even used these resources during an observation this year. We took about an hour to plan out our stories and then another hour for the actual writing. The kids had a lot of fun and everyone was engaged.

Resources Included:

• SWBST Story Planning and Summary Writing with Editable Character/Conflict Cards
• Show Don't Tell Story Elaboration with Editable Sensory Detail Word Cards
• Show, Don't Tell: A Writing Activity for Grades 4-8

You might also like . . .

• Narrative Writing Task Cards: Prewriting & Revision Tasks for Centers
• Roll & Write Buildable Writing Cubes
• Writing Skills & Strategies Bookmarks with Google Slides & Printable Posters
• Spin a Great Story: Gamify Writing Time with Printable Game Spinners

I'd love to hear how you use this resource in your classroom! Feel free to email me at iteachiwrite@yahoo.com with any questions or suggestions you may have. And don't forget to rate this product in order to earn TeachShare Credits for future purchases!

Copyright © iTeach & iWrite by Betsy Newmeyer.

All rights reserved by the author.

Permission to use for single classroom use only.

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This Roll & Write resource gives upper elementary and middle school ELA teachers 10 different, buildable writing cubes that will help your students throughout the writing process. These writing dice are a great way to review and practice skills you have already taught, and can be used for differentiation, independent practice, centers, or small group instruction during either the drafting or revision & editing stages of the writing process. These cubes include both words and images on each side of the cube and the font used is Open Dyslexic for easy readability. To build, simply print on copy paper or card stock, cut out, and glue or tape together. Then roll your way to better writing pieces!

Depending on the cube used, students will add sensory details to their story, stretch out their story, start a new sentence with a subordinating conjunction, roll a type of comma to use, or add figurative language. Students can also use the writing cube to add context clues to their vocabulary words or to complete revision tasks to improve their writing.

Writing Cubes Included:

• Roll Sensory Details
• Roll a Story Stretcher
• Roll a Complex Sentence Starter (x2)
• Roll a Sentence Stretcher
• Roll a Sentence Type
• Roll a Comma
• Roll a Vocabulary Word Context Clue
• Roll to Add Figurative Language
• Roll & Revise

Directions for Use:

1. Select and print your desired writing cube out on either copy paper or card stock.
2. Cut the cube net out
3. Fold along the lines
4. Glue or tape together to construct
5. Roll & Write or Revise

When explaining your directions and expectations to you students for writing cube use, you might want to first review the terms and writing skills, then include a signal so kids know when to roll their writing die. In my classroom, we use a doorbell or a chime.

You may also like: 

• Spin a Great Story: Gamify Writing Time with Printable Game Spinners
• Pull a Prompt: Superhero Freebie
• Pull a Prompt: Narratives
• FREE Picture Writing Prompt Sampler
• Picture Writing Prompts with Word Banks

I'd love to hear how you use this resource in your classroom! Feel free to email me at iteachiwrite@yahoo.com with any questions or suggestions you may have. And don't forget to rate this product in order to earn TeachShare Credits for future purchases!

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SWBST (somebody, wants, but, so, then) isn’t just for summarizing a story anymore. This story planning resource includes a SWBST graphic organizer, bookmark tools, and a fun, hands-on activity with mix-and-match character and conflict cards you cut apart. Also included is an editable Google Slideshow with blank character and conflict cards, so you can brainstorm new ideas with your students. This resource is perfect for a whole class activity, centers station, or small group story planning & summary writing instruction.

How To Prepare Your Materials

Print out the materials you want to use, then cut them apart. For added durability, I recommend printing them out on card stock and laminating them. If laminated, the kids can use the bookmarks and work mat as a write-and-wipe activity during writing time AND reading time.

In My Classroom

When I first introduced this resource to my 5th graders, I was shocked at how engaged everyone was. The kids considered this activity a game. Here's how it worked. I had everyone line up and then gave the first 9 kids a character card. The next 9 kids received a conflict card and then were paired up with a student who had a character card. The rest of the class received the story mat and then joined a duo to create a trio. After the kids were in their trios (1 character, 1 conflict, 1 mat), they then worked together to create a storyline. This was done orally to allow for the flexibility and the revision of ideas. Every single kid was animated and excited to share the plot their team had created. They couldn’t wait to share this activity with their families and friends.

What's Included?

• Teacher’s Guide
• SWBST Work Mat/Worksheet
• SWBST Summary Paragraph Frame Bookmark
• Visual (minimal text) SWBST bookmark for use with ELD students and developing readers (2 variations)
• 40 Character cards (20 per page)
• 40 Conflict cards (20 per page)
• 20 blank Character cards (1 page)
• 20 blank Conflict cards (1 page)
• A Google Slideshow with blank, editable character and conflict cards

You might also like . . .

• Narrative Writing Task Cards: Prewriting & Revision Tasks for Centers
• Roll & Write Buildable Writing Cubes
• Writing Skills & Strategies Bookmarks with Google Slides & Printable Posters
• Spin a Great Story: Gamify Writing Time with Printable Game Spinners

I'd love to hear how you use this resource in your classroom! Feel free to email me at iteachiwrite@yahoo.com with any questions or suggestions you may have. And don't forget to rate this product in order to earn TeachShare Credits for future purchases!

Copyright © iTeach & iWrite by Betsy Newmeyer.

All rights reserved by the author.

Permission to use for single classroom use only.

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If your 3rd - 8th grade students struggle to "show don't tell" and stretch their writing with dialogue, character emotions, and descriptive and sensory details, this resource is for you. Teach the art of elaboration by showing kids how to add sensory details, dialogue, and character emotions to stretch out their narrative stories and take them from drab to fab! This resource includes sensory word lists and word cards for the following: see, hear, smell, taste, touch, emotions, and dialogue or character thoughts. There are 30 words per detail type. Whether your students select and use the word cards to add sensory details to their work in progress, or you use the cards to spark a brand new story idea, these cards will definitely improve your students’ writing pieces. This resource also includes an editable Google Slideshow with blank word cards and word lists that you can customize with your own words, as well as printable blank cards and word lists that you can handwrite on.

This resource is good for . . .

• Students with IEPS
• English learners
• Developing readers-writers
• Advanced writers
• Fast finishers
• Centers or writing stations

How To Prepare Your Materials

Print out the word lists and/or words cards you want to use, then cut them apart. For added durability, I recommend printing them out on card stock and laminating them. The cards all include an icon to indicate the kind of detail, which allows for easy sorting and clean up.

What's Included?

• Teacher’s Guide
• Half page word lists (30 words per list) for: see, hear, smell, taste, touch, emotions, dialogue, blank list
• Sensory Word Bank Cards (30 word cards per page) for: see, hear, smell, taste, touch, emotions, dialogue
• Blank Word List cards
• Blank Sensory Word Bank Cards for teachers to handwrite in their own words
• A Google Slideshow with blank, editable sensory detail cards

In My Classroom

When I first introduced this resource to my 5th grader Writing Intervention class, we had just completed this short SWBST summary activity to plan out a new story. We knew the character and their conflict, but the kids needed help further developing their storyline, so I used this resource as a continuation of the story planning process.

I cut apart the word cards and place them into baggies around the room; one baggie per detail type. Each team of students moved from station to station selecting 2 details per card. They then physically organized the details into the basic plot line and recited when and how they would use each word in their story. Every student was engaged and asked to do this activity again sometime soon.

You might also like . . .

• SWBST Story Planning and Summary Writing with Editable Character/Conflict Cards
• Show, Don't Tell: A Writing Activity for Grades 4-8
• Narrative Writing Task Cards: Prewriting & Revision Tasks for Centers
• Roll & Write Buildable Writing Cubes
• Writing Skills & Strategies Bookmarks with Google Slides & Printable Posters
• Spin a Great Story: Gamify Writing Time with Printable Game Spinners

I'd love to hear how you use this resource in your classroom! Feel free to email me at iteachiwrite@yahoo.com with any questions or suggestions you may have. And don't forget to rate this product in order to earn TeachShare Credits for future purchases!

Copyright © iTeach & iWrite by Betsy Newmeyer.

All rights reserved by the author.

Permission to use for single classroom use only.

Let’s be friends!

Follow on TeachShare

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Pinterest

Blog

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