Lesson

Cours
Title/Focu Class #1: Descriptive Writing Grade 3 ELA
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PROGRAM OF STUDY OUTCOMES

Grade 3 ELA 2.3
discuss ways that visual images convey meaning in print and other media texts
identify ways that messages are enhanced in oral, print and other media texts by the
use of specific techniques
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson students will be able to:
1. Write a paragraph using their 5 senses
2. Self assess a piece of writing to ensure they have met all assigned criteria
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
Wordless book
Each student to have writing journal
Note paper for writing out descriptive writing info
Book Free Fall
Music Video for Snowflake
PREPARATION AND LOGISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
A place to have descriptive writing anchor chart
A place for all grade 3 students to discuss together

PROCEDURE
Introduction Time
Ask students what they know about descriptive writing
Have students give examples of descriptive writing they have read before
4 min
Have students give examples of descriptive writing they have done
before
Body Time
Review 1) Review the rules of descriptive writing
a. Describes a person, place, or object
b. Writing that shows rather than tells
c. Creates a vivid visual for the reader
d. Remember: Use your senses, be specific, use 10 min
adjectives, make comparisons
2) Have students review a pair of pre-written sentences
to see if they are descriptive or not descriptive (see
additional notes) and why?
Picture book 1 1) Look at several pages of the book Free Fall by 10 min
David Weisner and have students participate in a
dialogue about what they see on each page
a. What do you see
b. Are there any people, what do they look like
c. How do you think the characters are feeling
 2) Stop at the page where they are about to enter the
castle and have students start to think quietly about
what they see and how they would describe it, and
what they think would happen next.
Paragraph or 1) Have students write a paragraph or a page in their
page writing journal to describe what is about to happen
in the story after this particular page.
15 min
a. Their writing needs to be descriptive in
nature as per the previous discussion on
descriptive writing
Self Assess 1) Have students read their writing from the previous
Part B day and fill in the chart with if they fulfilled the
criteria or have not yet fulfilled it
2) Have students think about what they could do to 20 min
meet the missing criteria
3) Have students add some extra writing that meets the
missing criteria
Charades 1) Review the criteria for writing a descriptive piece
Part C notes on whiteboard from last time
2) Show and not tell by having each student choose 7 min
an action out of a hat and act it out, not using any
words
Music Video 1) Watch the video Snowflake 3 min
Paragraph or 1) Have students write a paragraph or a page in their
page writing journal to describe what happens after the
video ends. Their writing should be descriptive in 10 min
nature as per the previous discussion on descriptive
writing.
Self Assess 1) Have students read their writing from the previous
Part D day and fill in the chart with if they fulfilled the
criteria or have not yet fulfilled it
2) Have students think about what they could do to 20 min
meet the missing criteria
3) Have students add some extra writing that meets the
missing criteria
Conclusion Time
Did you feel like your writing was descriptive today?
What is your favorite part of descriptive writing?
Finish looking at the pages in the book (Part A only)
Assessment
Student writing samples
Self-assessments

Additional Notes:
Descriptive Sentence: My smile was as bright as the sun. My tears could fill a cup.
Non-descriptive Sentence: I was happy. I was sad.

Self Assessment Criteria Check

Criteria Yes Not Yet

Do you describe at least one person, place or object?

Did you make at least one comparison in your writing?

Did you use at least two of your senses to describe something in

your writing?
Did you use at least three describing words?

Do you think your writing creates a vivid visual for your reader?