Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Tell Me a Story

Middle and High School ELA Lesson Plan-"Analytic and Creative Writing Activity
Since I am combining my Tuesday: Elements of Literature Day with my Thursday: Writing, Grammar and Vocabulary Day, I needed an idea that would speak to as many of those ELA subject areas as possible. Today's activity, Tell Me a Story, manages to touch on each of these segments that contribute to a typical English program of study.

This FREE activity enables students to develop both their analytic and creative thinking and writing skills. First, the students review a list of 12 qualities of Strong Fiction that they created, and then they analyze their personal examples for each of the various criteria.


Next, they write examples of Specific Characters, General Objects, Specific Objects, Adjectives, Abstract Nouns and Setting on 3" x5" pieces of construction paper color-coded to match the topics.
Middle and High School ELA Lesson Plan-"Analytic and Creative Writing Activity
Middle and High School ELA Lesson Plan-"Analytic and Creative Writing Activity


Finally, they select the basic bones of their story from the cards the class made in the prior segment of this activity and then they write either an individual story or a collaborative piece in groups of three. Whichever writing idea teachers don't select can be used for another lesson at a later date. After the students complete their stories, they peer critique each other's writing using the Strong Fiction criteria as their guide. They also address varying sentence structures and making strong vocabulary choices. On this sheet, they are also asked to choose and analyze specific sentences, phrases and words for how well they meet the qualities outlined and analyzed on this list of 12.
Middle and High School ELA Lesson Plan-"Analytic and Creative Writing Activity

This Common Core and Bloom's Taxonomy aligned activity offers students a chance to analyze fiction for specific criteria, and to exhibit how they can combine these characteristics with the elements of literature to create a durable story that SHOWS instead of TELLS. As always with my products, this one includes a full page of Teacher Notes that detail the Common Core Standards and Bloom's Taxonomy goals, the Who, What, When and Why aspects of the lesson and a bullet list to explain the How to teach the various segments.  Download this FREEBIE  from: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Activity-Tell-Me-a-Story-725289

What do your students choose as Strong Fiction criteria?

Happy Teaching,

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