Writing Strategy Lesson

Teacher: Kyla Swanson

Grade Level: First Grade
Date: 9 May 2018
Format: Small Group
Individual
Guided instruction (including listen to
reading/read to someone) in the
middle of gradual release model
Strategy: Writing: Half and Half
Objective/Purpose/Instructional Goals: To ensure that the student has a way of
expressing his ideas through a variety of
pictures and words.
Texts/Resources/Materials: Book "Day of the Dead" by Tony Johnson and
Jeanette Winter
Spider Web Brain Storming Sheet (x2)
Lined Paper with box for picture (x2)
Assessment(s): Pre-Assessment: Student will be asked what
he likes/dislikes about writing. What is
challenging, and, what is fun about writing?
Formative Assessment: Student observes as
teacher makes a model of writing. Student
will be asked questions, so teacher can make
sure student is on the right track. Student will
fill out brainstorming worksheet and think
about his favorite holiday. This will allow the
students to get out his ideas and show the
teacher that he understands the question.
Student will show first draft to teacher.
Summative Assessment: Student will edit
assignment and show final draft to the teacher
Brief outline (Activities): 1. Mini lesson: Teacher will ask student to
show on their face how they feel about
writing. Then teacher will ask student to show
an emotion on their face about how they feel
about drawing.
2. Teacher will introduce the book that we
will be reading: "Day of the Dead". Ask
learner if they know anything about the Day
of the Dead (Los Dias de los Muertos) If
student does not know, give a summary of it
and how there are different holiday
celebrations around the world.
3. Read Day of the Dead
• Ask student if he has any questions
about the book
• What does he notice about the cover?
• The mom keeps saying "wait" when
do you think they will finally be able
to eat the food?
• Prediction: what do you think they are
gather all the food for?
4. After reading ask learner what they learned
about the day of the dead.
5. Give learner what the goal for this lesson
is: tell him that we will work on writing down
our ideas and talking about your own favorite
holiday. "First I will show you an example
using the text we have just learned"
6. Pull out the spider web brainstorming
activity and write Day of the Dead in the
middle circle.
• Together, teacher and student will
come up with words that describe the
day of the dead or emotions that one
would feel on this day.
7. After, teacher will fill out half and half
worksheet, first drawing a picture of what
they visualize the day of the dead looking
like, and then writing a few sentences
explaining the image.
8. Student will have opportunity to ask any
questions or share their thinking
9. Student will then get a copy of the
brainstorming worksheet and fill it out with
his favorite holiday in mind.
5. During: Student will be given copy of the
half and half worksheet
6. First student will draw a picture to gather
his ideas and express them. This will help him
narrow down what he wants to talk about and
visualize what the holiday looks like.
7. Student will then write a sufficient number
of sentences that get his point across in the
space below.
 9. Post Writing: Student will share his
thinking with the teacher and read aloud his
writing. If there is anything he wishes to add
or revise he may do so to make the final copy
worthy of being published.

NOTES *Use this area to jot down any notes

about the strategy or lesson.