English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence for Grades K–5: WRITING Strand

English Standards of Learning

ENHANCED SCOPE and SEQUENCE

FIFTH GRADE

WRITING LESSON PLANS

Introduction

The sample lesson plans included in this document are expansions of the Virginia Department of Education’s Enhanced Scope and Sequence oral language lesson plans. They include TTAC suggestions for differentiation.

This resource is intended to help teachers align their classroom instruction with the content found in English Standards of Learning. The sample lessons are based on sound research and provide a variety of ways to actively involved children in their learning. The lessons serve to supplement the instructional suggestions in the Houghton Mifflin Teacher’s Edition.

While the sample lessons are exemplary, they by no means represent the scope of instruction that MCPS teachers are implementing in their classrooms. Teachers are invited to follow the lesson format in this document and write additional lessons to include in next year’s Curriculum Guide update.

To submit an additional lesson, copy a page from this word document to your hard drive. Use the format to guide you as you type over it the appropriate information for your lesson. Submit the lesson by sending it as an attachment to . Please submit your lessons throughout the year so that the Office of Curriculum can compile them for review by groups of teachers next summer.

WRITING Lesson Plan  Research and Plan Your Report

Organizing TopicComposing and Written Expression

Related Standard(s) of Learning5.8

Objective(s)

  • The student will plan, collect, and organize information to use to write a report.

Prerequisite Understandings/Knowledge/Skills

  • Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively with peers.
  • Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to read for purpose, retrieve key information, and generate questions about what they have read.

Materials needed

  • A collection of nonfiction books on a selected topic of interest to the students and/or part of science or social studies objectives
  • One, class-size I-chart (matrix) with titles of nonfiction books listed, one per row and space to record a question (e.g., a long sheet of butcher paper taped to the classroom wall)
  • 8½" by 11" student copies of I-chart with three equally-spaced, blank columns: nonfiction titles are listed down the left in the same order as the class I-chart; questions and information are not recorded

Lesson procedure

1.Tell students that they are going to write a report on a topic they are studying, and ask them to think-pair-share what they know about the topic.

2.Lead students to think about questions they have about the topic. Record questions across the class I-chart, one per column.

3.Do a brief book talk on a portion of the nonfiction collection. With each book, students should speculate which questions might be answered in the book. Across the book talks, lead students to discuss how they will find out where to look in the book (e.g., table of contents, index) and how they will locate information on a page (e.g., read headings and subheadings, read boldface type, skim).

4.Give each pair of students a nonfiction book. Have students search their books to find the answers to the chart questions. Once they find information, have them record the facts on sticky-notes and place the sticky-notes on the I-chart, across from the book titles and under the questions they answer.

5.Repeat this process until all questions are answered as completely and accurately as possible. (In the process, students may generate new questions. These questions and their answers may be added to the I-chart.)

6.After students place their sticky-notes on the class I-chart, copy the information onto the chart in large, dark print.

7.Once students have completed researching information with the available texts, have each student select 2-3 questions to answer in an individually written report.

8.Give each student an individual I-chart, with the sources listed down the left column, but no questions or information recorded. Tell students to record their questions in the order they think they will write about them. Then, ask the students to copy the appropriate information from the class I-chart.

9.Have the students select and highlight information from each column that will be included in the report and, in each column, number the order in which the information will be used. (At this time, students eliminate repeated information, combine related information, and determine how to write about conflicting information, if it exists.)

  1. Have each student use the organizational plan to write a 2-3 paragraph report.

Specific options for differentiating this lesson

Technology

  • Provide text to some students prior to small group activity. Text may be presented as follows: talking word processor, on audio tape, replicated in picture-word symbols software program, or text read by screen reader.
  • Have students use talking word processor to complete the writing assignment.
  • Have students use the highlighting function of word processor to fill in I-chart.
  • Have students use word prediction software program to complete written assignment.
  • Have students enter their responses into a portable word processing device.

Multisensory

  • Have pairs of students use books on tape for repeated readings of information.
  • Use visuals, such as pictures, tactile cues, to enhance students’ comprehension of text.
  • Have students use picture symbols to fill in their individual I-chart.
  • Have students sequence information using picture symbols to prepare for writing report. Numbers will be provided for questions to be answered.

Community Connections

  • Invite an author/writer to the class to discuss how he/she researches a topic and begins to develop questions to begin writing.
  • Invite a lawyer to the class to demonstrate how to research a topic and identity key information and synthesize into a report.

Small Group Learning

  • Generate the questions for the invited author/writer/lawyer who will be visiting the classroom.
  • Have small groups generate potential articles for the school or local newspaper. The articles may be compiled on a Word template that is formatted with columns to look like the newspaper.
  • Have the class generate a school newsletter based on current school events or topic of high priority for peers.

Vocabulary

  • Have students demonstrate an understanding of the following vocabulary: table of contents, index, heading, subheadings, and skim.
  • In students binders, have students create a visual guide illustrating the vocabulary words given.
  • Model the process that students are asked to use, highlighting key vocabulary
  • Develop a binder of questions frequently asked when researching a topic and generating a report.

Student Organization of Content

  • Have students keep their rough drafts to provide a visual of the process.
  • Create a checklist of questions that students need to answer before turning in final draft.
  • Develop a binder of questions frequently asked when researching a topic and generating a report.

WRITING Lesson Plan  Specific Verbs

Organizing TopicComposing and Written Expression

Related Standard(s) of Learning5.8

Objective(s)

  • The student will be able to use active, specific verbs effectively.

Prerequisite Understandings/Knowledge/Skills

  • The student are expected to demonstrate the ability to identify verbs within text.
  • The students are expected to demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively in groups.
  • The student are expected to be able to write using correct format, subject-verb agreement, and organization.
  • The students are expected to be able to follow multiple-step directions.

Materials needed

  • Transparency of an example of student writing that overuses weak verbs (e.g., go, be, get, is, are, has, have, had been) and general verbs (e.g., jump, went, loves, got, said). (The example should have an interesting and focused topic, a well-organized sequence of events, and a voice that is expected of fifth graders. The piece of writing should be about 15 sentences long and not be from a student in the class. It should be triple spaced.)
  • Chart paper or pocket chart entitled, VERBS: with three columns headed, 1) Weak; do not show a picture or action 2) General and Common and 3) Specific and Interesting; show a picture or action
  • Teacher-constructed Ways to Revise Verbs chart that includes the following strategies taken from The Virginia SOL Writing Tests: A Teacher’s Resource Notebook for Enhancing Writing Instruction and Improving Scores on the State Assessments:

1)Eliminate a “being” verb by rearranging ideas and adding information.

Examples:

The room was tiny.The tiny room looked ready to explode.

I will be a teacher.I will teach math to fifth graders.

This class is boring.This boring class plucks my nerves.

2)Look after the “being” verb and pull the idea closer to the beginning of the sentence.

Examples:

My sister is a dancer.My sister dances ballet.

3)Replace general verbs like jump, went, loves, got, and said with more active or specific verbs like raced, pounced, lugged, darted, treasured, and snarled.

4)Make certain that new words sound like you.

Lesson procedure

1.Explain to the students that they are going to work together to revise a piece of writing. Put the transparency on the overhead and read the piece for the students.

2.Ask the students what is good about the writing. Since the piece has many good features, the students will be able to identify several favorable characteristics of the writing.

3.Explain that as good as the piece is, it can be made better by revising the weak and general verbs. Explain that as part of revision, an author intentionally chooses the best words he or she can think of to show the action in the story. Explain that they will be working as a class to revise the verbs in this piece of writing.

4.Read the piece again, sentence by sentence, and ask students to identify the verb in each sentence. As each verb is identified, write it in large print on a piece of sentence strip tag board and place it in the chalk tray.

5.Once all the verbs are identified, ask students to sort them into three categories: verbs that do not show any picture or action (e.g., is, was, were, be, had), general verbs that are commonly used (e.g., run, jump, took, went, loves, said), and verbs that are specific and interesting and show the reader a picture or action (e.g., raced, pounced, lugged, darted, treasures, snarled). As the students classify each verb, put it in the correct category on the chart or in the pocket chart.

6.Return to the first list of words, and identify, or have students identify, those that are forms of the verb be. Explain that because these words are all forms of be, they are called being verbs. Explain that they need to always consider revising these verbs.

7.Direct students to read their current drafts and highlight each verb that goes in the first (Weak; do not show a picture or action) or second (General and Common) categories.

8.As students work to highlight their drafts, circulate around the room, clarifying the task or helping students who are having difficulty identifying the verbs. Also guide students to consider verbs they have overlooked.

9.Return to the transparency example, and lead students through a revision of the sentences. Begin by modeling how to revise one or two sentences, and then ask students to help you revise the rest. Students may use a dictionary or thesaurus to help them think of alternative verbs. Encourage more than one possible way to revise a sentence, and do a Think-Aloud to explain why you are choosing a particular revision. Write the revised sentence in the space above the original. NOTE: When considering student suggestions, especially from the thesaurus, point out repeatedly that the selected word needs to sound like the student and not be chosen because it sounds fancy. Also make certain that the student is demonstrating the strategies listed on the Ways to Revise Verbs chart.

10.When they have completed the revision, turn off the overhead projector, and read the new draft to the students. Ask them what they like about the new version.

11.Before students begin to revise their papers, display the Ways to Revise Verbs chart, and review the different strategies they used.

  1. Have student pairs think of ways to revise their draft sentences that have weak or general verbs. Instruct the pairs to help each other choose more specific verbs that show the reader a picture or action. Remind them that the final decision about revision rests with the author.

Specific options for differentiating this lesson

Technology

  • Use a desktop computer with an LCD projector. Use the highlighter tool in word processing to do #1. Print out a copy so that every student has a copy.
  • Use the thesaurus in the software program to generate options for verbs.
  • Consider using word prediction software to provide word options.
  • Consider using videos and software that teach/review verbs.
  • Use picture symbols or illustrations to compile a journal of verbs that can be used in student’s writings.

Multisensory

  • Create and maintain a collection of verbs for student to reference.
  • Color-code verbs and other parts of speech to help students identify parts of speech.
  • Use books on tape to find verbs within text.
  • Consider using videos and software that teach/review verbs.
  • In groups, have students act out fun action words.
  • Create a wall chart that illustrates specific and interesting verb choices that students can refer to. Use Velcro (hook and loop tape) to provide manipulation of verb cards.

Community Connections

  • Invite a storyteller to deliver a story using action words.
  • Invite the local high school drama club to demonstrate action words for students to discuss and model.

Small Group Learning

  • Generate a list of action words for groups of two or four students to write about.
  • Have students take turns reading the written work of peers and provide feedback
  • Take a fieldtrip to a local sporting event and identify verbs commonly associated with that event.

Vocabulary

  • Students need to understand the following vocabulary: description, weak verbs, general, specific and interesting verbs.
  • Develop a binder of action words with pictures for students to reference.
  • Make sure students are able to navigate through a thesaurus.

Student Organization of Content

  • Have students maintain a individual desk file of color coded verb cards to reference during writing.
  • Have students create a Rolodex of action verbs used in previous works. Put verbs on pink cards for easy identification.

WRITING Lesson Plan  Correcting Excessive Coordination

Organizing TopicUsage and Mechanics

Related Standard(s) of Learning5.9

Objective(s)

  • The student will edit own writing to avoid excessive coordination.

Prerequisite Understandings/Knowledge/Skills

  • Student are expected to demonstrate the ability to attend to group directions and directions.
  • Student are expected to demonstrate the ability to interact effectively with peers during group activities.
  • Student are expected to demonstrate the ability to state their thoughts succinctly.

Materials needed

  • Set of teacher-made transparencies (enough different examples so that there is one for every two students and two for the teacher to use as examples) each of which has, at the top half of the page, an example of student writing that uses excessive coordination (Sentences exemplify writing such as, “I opened the door and the dog went out and he chased the cat and then he came back inside.” The sentences should be representative of student writing but not be from students in the class.)
  • Transparency markers, one for every two students

Lesson procedure

1.Explain that students are going to work on editing sentences. Put the first transparency on the overhead. Read the sentence to the students and ask them what they notice.

2.When the students mention the and, and, and structure, name the problem, excessive coordination, and explain that it occurs when writers rely too much on the word and to link ideas.

3.Ask the students how they could rewrite the sentence to eliminate some, if not all, of the ands. Discuss possible edits which might include 1) dividing the sentence into separate sentences, 2) writing only one compound sentence using and, and 3) using a word like when or after to link two ideas.