Hands On Creative Writing Class (1st-3rd grade) Class Objective: This class is meant to inspire and encourage children to put a story on paper. They will either draw or print and paste a picture each week to go with their stories. They will be taught a different concept each week in class--whether it be capitalization, punctuation, nouns, verbs, adjectives, parts of a sentence, etc. But the ultimate goal is to have them write short stories. They can as simple as a few sentences or as long as a few paragraphs, depending on where your child is at. This class is also focused on building confidence. You will not find a lot of correction on the paper itself, mainly just an encouraging note. What is important is that they completed the story and that they stood in front of the class to read it to their peers. They do not have to write about the subject that we talk about in class, nor do they have to write about what we are building as far as our lego project. I encourage it though. But if they would like to write about the weather or what color sweater they are wearing, then please, go ahead and let them. Please print out the 16 week class outline as well as 16 handwriting sheets. The handwriting worksheets are for the writers to refer to as needed. The ultimate goal of the class is to build students’ confidence; as well as getting them to express complete thoughts, be more descriptive, and use the correct capitalization and punctuation. By the end of the semester they should have a book of stories and pictures that they can be proud of. Yes it will have mistakes, but they will gradually be able to look back over time and see how far they have come. === Based on the class assessment your child should be doing one of the following: Copying sentences, using words in sentences, or creating short 5 sentence stories In class we touch all points but each student is at his/her own level.

Main Focus: Short stories using sequence -first -next -then -last Descriptive sentences- -using descriptive words from the 5 senses Descriptive Paragraphs- Topic Sentence- what the paragraph is about 3-4 detail sentences- describe using sensory words Conclusion sentence- restate your topic sentence or closure sentence Short stories using sequence -first -next -then -last Always add a picture! Either draw one, or print and paste one into your book. Capitalization- beginning of sentences and all proper nouns Punctuation- periods-question marks- exclamation points Writing Checklist Capitalization Punctuation Verb Adjective Conjunction Did I express a complete thought?

===

Week1 Class Assessment Copy the sentences A bat sat. A rat sat. A man sees them. Using the following words in a sentence. dad-sad-mat-fat-cat Write a story about a cat. First Next Then Last Notes-Remember to use a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence. Always capitalize “I”. Use the correct punctuation at the end of a sentence. ===

Week 2 Class Brainstorming Back to School -new teacher -new friends -new backpack Now have the class write 4-5 words describing why they like coming back to school Focus- Sentences begin with capital letters. Sentences end with punctuation. A sentence is a group of words that tells a whole idea. Write the sentences in your book. Remember to capitalize the beginning of the sentence. Also capitalize the names of specific people. Write the following sentences correctly in your book. -my cat can jump -pam has a hat -the bat is little -sam and pam can jump Homework- Write 4-5 complete sentences saying why you like coming back to school. Remember to have spaces between your words. Or copy the following sentences and remember to use capitalization and punctuation. _ i like to go back to school _i get a new teacher _i see school friends again _school is so much fun ===

Week 3 Class Brainstorming Opinion-it is true to you Your favorite teacher -nice -sweet -bold -caring Now have the class write 4-5 words describing why the teacher is their favorite Focus- Sentences begin with capital letters. Sentences end with punctuation. A sentence is a group of words that tells a whole idea. Write the sentences in your book. Remember to capitalize the beginning of the sentence. Also capitalize the names of specific people. Write the following sentences correctly in your book. -this is my cap -you can play with me -she sat down -nan ran up -he has the mat Homework- Write 4-5 complete sentences stating why your teacher is your favorite. Remember to have spaces between your words. Or copy the following sentences and remember to use capitalization and punctuation. -teachers have important jobs -a teacher works at a school -teachers have many students -a teacher helps students ===

Week 4 Class Presentations

- Everyone is to stand up in front of the class and present one of their stories During review have the students come up with examples. Review Capitalization- capitalize the beginning of every sentence -capitalize all proper nouns Proper Noun- is a specific person, place or thing Punctuation- every sentence ends with either a period, question mark or exclamation point Statements end in a period. Who? What? Why? Where? How? Do?- Sentences all end in a question mark. Sentences that express strong feeling end in an exclamation point! Complete sentences express a complete thought. Words must be in the correct place. Homework- create a story or write a few sentences about your LEGO tree frog. ===

Week5 Class Brainstorming Doctors- - hospital -medicine -help -nice Now have the class write 4-5 words describing a doctor. Class Discussion Topic- what the paragraph is about Detail- describe the topic Closure- ends the paragraph Focus-. Remember to capitalize the beginning of the sentence. Also capitalize the names of specific people. Write the following sentences correctly in your book. -health workers take care of people -a doctor works in a hospital -he uses a stethoscope -he helps people Homework- Write 4-5 complete sentences stating what you might find in a hospital and remember to have spaces between your words. Or copy the following sentences and remember to use capitalization and punctuation. -dan jumps over the hat -we jump over the hat -sam ran back here ===

Week 6 Class Brainstorming Safety Helpers -police -fireman Now have the class write 4-5 words describing a police officer or fireman Class Discussion- Proper Nouns -specific person, place or thing - always capitalized Focus- Sentences begin with capital letters. Sentences end with punctuation. A sentence is a group of words that tells a whole idea. Write the sentences in your book. Remember to capitalize the beginning of the sentence. Also capitalize the names of specific people. Write the following sentences correctly in your book. -safety helpers help people -a police officer works at a police station -a firefighter works at a firestation Homework- Write 4-5 complete sentences describing a police officer or fireman. Remember to have spaces between your words. Or copy the following sentences and remember to use capitalization and punctuation. -mack looks up -he has my bag -pat said to jump -mack jumps over the bag ===

Week 7 Class Brainstorming Fruits -apple -banana -orange Now have the class write 4-5 words describing one of the fruits Focus- Sentences begin with capital letters. Sentences end with punctuation. A sentence is a group of words that tells a whole idea. Write the sentences in your book. Remember to capitalize the beginning of the sentence. Also capitalize the names of specific people. Write the following sentences correctly in your book. -fall is apple picking time -apples grow on trees -apples are red, green and yellow -the middle of an apple is the core -it has the seeds Homework- Write 4-5 complete sentences describing your chosen fruit. Remember to have spaces between your words. Or copy the following sentences and remember to use capitalization and punctuation. -jack can kick -pam can run -the hat is too big -val has the bat ===

Week 8 Class Presentations- each student is to present a story they have written to the class. Have the children come up with examples during review. Review Joining Sentences

A good writer can join two short sentences. This makes the sentences more interesting to read. The word and is used to join the sentences.

How to join sentences.

1. Look for sentences that have the same naming part.

2. Write the naming part.

3. Look for different action parts. Use the word and to join them.

How to join sentences.

1. Look for sentences that have the same action parts.

2. Write the naming part.

3. Look for different action parts. Use the word and to join them.

Naming part- who or what the sentence is about

Telling part- the action part

Verbs- describe an action

Homework- create a story or write a few sentences about your LEGO pig.

===

Week 9 Class Brainstorming Pumpkins -orange -heavy -seeds -big Now have the class write 4-5 words describing a pumpkin or what it can be used for. Class Discussion- sentences with the same ideas can be combined. Use the conjunctions and and or to combine them Focus- Sentences begin with capital letters. Sentences end with punctuation. A sentence is a group of words that tells a whole idea. Write the sentences in your book. Remember to capitalize the beginning of the sentence. Also capitalize the names of specific people. Write the following sentences correctly in your book. -apples can be red and yellow -apples have cores and seeds -apples can be sweet or sour -apples have stems and leaves Homework- Write 4-5 complete sentences describing your pumpkin. Remember to have spaces between your words. Or copy the following sentences and remember to use capitalization and punctuation. -fall is pumpkin picking time -pumpkins are orange -the outside lines called ribs -the inside has pulp and seeds -do you like pumpkins ===

Week 10 Class Brainstorming Your favorite Candy -snickers -sucker -gum -starburst Now have the class write 4-5 words describing your favorite candy. Class Discussion Questions- when asking Who? What? When? Why? How? Always end the sentence with a question mark. Focus- Sentences begin with capital letters. Sentences end with punctuation. A sentence is a group of words that tells a whole idea. Write the sentences in your book. Remember to capitalize the beginning of the sentence. Also capitalize the names of specific people. Write the following sentences correctly in your book. -is the cat there -did the cat go up -did the cat come down -where can it be Homework-Write your opinion of your favorite candy. State your opinion. Give 2-3 reasons why. Then close your paragraph with I love to eat….. Or copy the following sentences and remember to use capitalization and punctuation. -what color is a pumpkin -what are the lines on a pumpkin -where are the seeds -what does a pumpkin grow on ===

Week 11 Class Brainstorming Taste words -delicious -yummy -gross -disgusting Now have the class write 4-5 things that could be described with taste words. Class Discussion An exclamation is a sentence that shows strong feelings. Focus- Sentences begin with capital letters. Sentences end with punctuation. A sentence is a group of words that tells a whole idea. Write the sentences in your book. Remember to capitalize the beginning of the sentence. Also capitalize the names of specific people. Write the following sentences correctly in your book. -come here, quick -look at that -what a good cat you are -grab the cat Homework- Write 4-5 complete sentences using your taste words. Remember to have spaces between your words. Or copy the following sentences and remember to use capitalization and punctuation. -i think orange juice is delicious -i think watermelons are disgusting -i think getting muddy is gross -i think blueberry pancakes are yummy ===

Week 12 Class Presentations

- Everyone is to stand up in front of the class and present one of their stories During review have the students come up with examples Review

Adding describing words to sentences to give a clear picture.

How to add describing words to sentences.

1. Look for sentences that do not give your reader a clear picture.

2. Think of describing words that tell more about what things look like.

3. Add the describing words to the sentences.

Add describing words to these sentences.

The clown wears a hat.

A lion jumps through a hoop.

A monkey rides on an elephant.

A butterfly flew into the tent.

Add 4 more sentences to complete the story.

Build Finish your lego project Homework- write a story about your LEGO panda project ===

Week 13 Class Brainstorming Soccer Game -games -park -win -lose Now have the class write 4-5 words describing what may happen at a soccer game. Class Discussion- When talking about an event -Introduce -talk about the event- details tell more about what happened -close Focus- Sentences begin with capital letters. Sentences end with punctuation. Write the following sentences correctly in your book. -my team had a soccer game at the park -when i got the ball, i aimed at the net -i kicked the winning goal -everyone cheered for me -it was a great game Homework- Write 4-5 complete sentences talking about what could happen in a soccer game. Remember to have spaces between your words. Or copy the following sentences and remember to use capitalization and punctuation. -a soccer ball is round -i aimed at the net -my brother plays soccer, too -we each got a trophy ===

Week 14 Class Brainstorming Trip to the pond -turtles -ducks -water -frogs -fish Now have the class write 4-5 words describing what they might find at the pond. Class Discussion- When talking about an event -Introduce -talk about the event- details tell more about what happened -close Focus- Pronouns- take place of nouns. They make your writing more clear. Write the following sentences correctly in your book. -my mom and i had a lunch date -we walked to the pond -it was near a park full of grass -we put a blanket down and ate lunch Homework- Write 4-5 complete sentences talking about your trip to the pond. Remember to have spaces between your words. Or copy the following sentences and remember to use capitalization and punctuation. -it was winter -i went for a walk to the pond with my mom -i did not see any ducks or turtles -mom said ducks fly south to stay warm -she told me turtles bury themselves in the mud to hibernate ===

Week 15 Class Brainstorming Dressing for winter -snow -gloves -socks -scarf Now have the class write 4-5 words about dressing for winter Class Discussion- When talking about an event -Introduce -talk about the event- details tell more about what happened -close Focus- Past tense verbs show events that have already happened. Write the following sentences in your book. -i was in my bed sleeping -when mom told me that there was snow outside -she said i should get dressed and go check it out -i told her i wanted to eat breakfast first Homework- Write 4-5 complete sentences about your winter day. Remember to have spaces between your words. Or copy the following sentences and remember to use capitalization and punctuation. -it was winter and it was very cold outside -i was cold and wanted to be warm -i went to the closet and took my jacket off the hanger -then i put it on - i was finally warm ===

Week 16 Class Presentations Everyone is to stand up in front of the class and present one of their stories. During review have the students come up with examples. Review

Noun- person, place, thing

Verb- shows action

Adjective- describes the noun

Subject- who or what the sentence is about

Predicate- action part

Story -

The characters are the people or animals in a story.

The setting is where and when a story happens.

“It was the first day of school. Tim was worried. He saw the large playground and lots of children. He wondered if he would make new friends. When Tim heard the bell ring, he walked to his classroom. He sat at a desk next to a boy named Rob. Rob asked Tim if he would like to be friends. Tim was excited to have a new friend.”

A plot contains a problem and a solution. Thinking about the plot can help you understand the story.

Read the passage. Answer the questions about the plot.

“It was time to head home from school. Lee could not find his hat. He had seen Jim near the hats and coats earlier. “You took my hat,” Lee said. Jim said he did not, but he would be happy to help Lee look for it. An angry Lee grabbed his coat to put it on. His hat fell out of his own coat pocket. “I’m sorry,” he said to Jim. “I should have known you wouldn’t take my hat. I’ll think and look next time before I talk.”