Writing Curriculum Map

Unit Name

Activities

Start of the Year Activities

(approximate timeframe: September)

• Oral Storytelling (act out stories with keywords on note cards)
• Writing Prompts: freewriting (throughout the year)
• Intro into Weblog Technology
• Writing BioPoems
• Read Aloud Plays (cooperative group)
• Creating Writing Portfolio with goals, reflections, etc.

Adventure Short Story

(approximate timeframe: September-October)

• Pictures tell a story: safari adventure
• Conflict/Resolution in writing (puppet skits)
• WriteSource 2000 – Plot
• Writing dialogue minilessons
• Writing an adventure story – project (w/plot peak organizer, scoring rubric)

Descriptive Writing: Monster Exchange

(approximate timeframe: October)

• Using the senses in writing (alien activity)
• Monster Exchange
• Reading Rotten Island
• Illustrate from listening
• Creating Monster and description
• Day in the life of Monster
• Monster Exchange in classroom

Expository Writing: Imaginary Land Brochure

(approximate timeframe: October-November)

• Read Weslandia
• Examining and analyzing travel brochures
• Creating Imaginary Land and a travel brochure for that land, using attributes of travel brochures
• Using Microsoft Publisher to create promotional flyer

Theater Writing: Puppets

(approximate timeframe: November-December)

• Reading Fairy Tale News play (genre of play script writing)
• Reviewing Plot/Theme
• Reading ‘Celebrations of World” and discussing common threads (lights, food, family, etc)
• Prompt: Inventing a holiday and creating story map (setting, characters, plot, resolution, theme)
• Cooperative Groups
• Choosing one story map or combining together
• Writing a script (every group member has role in creation of project)
• Making puppets (w/art teacher)
• Creating promotional materials
• Performing for younger grades
• Creating movie documentary of the puppet project

Origins of Words

(approximate timeframe: January)

• Borrowed Words
• Jigsaw Words
• Roots
• Suffix
• Prefix
• Eponyms
• Create ads for objects
• Made up Words
• Frindle
• Class Dictionary
• Shakespearean insults
• Multiple Meanings
• Slang

Parts of Speech

(approximate timeframe: January-February)

• Madlibs
• WriteSource
• Grammar Rock Video
• Poster Project
• Adjectives
• Adverbs
• Nouns
• Verbs
• Prepositions
• Pronouns
• Interjections
• Conjunctions
• Writing song in style of Grammar Rock – record and post to Weblog

Paragraph Writing

(approximate timeframe: February)

• WriteSource Overview
• Expository
• Giving directions for Norris/HRHS buildings
• Writing the steps to how to do something
• Sharing and posting to Weblog
• Persuasive Writing
• MCAS as requirement for graduation?
• Descriptive
• Describing Quidditch
• Stuffed Animal Day
• Narrative
• Reading Mem Fox  Wilfred…
• Writing about object that has strong memories
• Recording and publishing to Weblog

Essay Writing: Name

(approximate timeframe: March)

• Prompt: Inventing a Legend of your name
• Handouts: Genre of Five PP Essay Writing
• WriteSource
• Interviewing family: origins of name
• Computer research/sharing of discoveries
• Writing essay

Figurative Language

(approximate timeframe: March-April)

• Hyperbole
• Davy Crockett Listening Quiz
• Safari exaggeration sheet
• Creating own Tall Tale Story
• Onomatopoeia
• Personification
• Writing from view of your house in morning
• Alliteration
• Imagery
• Five Senses Chart – using Halibuts and Hailstones
• Idioms
• Phantom Tollbooth
• Beach Boys lyrics
• Idiom Game
• Simile/Metaphor
• Describe Self

Poetry

(approximate timeframe: March-April)

• My America – sense of place/imagery
• Poetry Exploration Project (finding and sharing poems with class)
• WriteSource overview
• Illustrating “mind pictures” from some poems
• The Raven
• Paul Revere
• Reading Love That Dog and share poem styles
• Poems for Multiple Voices
• Recording to Weblog
• Poetry Marathon
• Animal in Me
• Haikus
• Inside this ..
• Odes
• Create Poetry Book
• Letter Writing Mini-lesson
• Submitting Poetry Journal and letter to me
• Songwriting

Picture Books Creation

(approximate timeframe: May)

• Integration of curricular theme (this year – science/ last year – math)
• Read Aloud Author and From Pic to Words
• Working with librarian to examine genre of picture books
• Planning and Writing picture book
• Using Powerpoint to create and publish
• Sharing with younger grades
• Posting to Weblog

Short Story: Trapped in a Board Game

(approximate timeframe: June)

• Reviewing plot
• Reading/Watching Zathura and/or Jumanji
• Writing adventure story
• Integrating historical figure into story