When I first started teaching I found numerous paragraph

writing resources. I had bookshelves full! However, each of those resources

failed to give me a daily, step-by-step plan, as to how to teach paragraph
writing. After my first few years of floundering, I laid out a straight forward
plan to share with colleagues and now you!
This paragraph writing pack includes a 5 day “Teaching
Paragraph Writing” plan. This plan follows the classic color coding
organization method, but provides daily guidance for direct instruction,
guided practice, and student practice pages with answer keys. It is perfect
for students being to learn writing organization and paragraph construction.
At the end of the 5 sessions students will have the organizational knowledge
to write a solid paragraph. Student pages, answer keys, graphic organizers,
topic ideas and a writing rubric are included!

Table of Contents
Page
Intro / Table of Contents 1
Paragraph Writing “The Plan” 2–4
Student Pages & Answer Keys 5 - 14
Graphic Organizers 15 - 20
Topic Ideas 21
Rubric 22

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 Paragraph Writing

1. Introduce the concepts: “Main Ideas”, “Details”, and

Day 1 “Examples” using color coding. (Student pg. A)
(Direct
2. Trace the arrows on your example poster to show that the
Instruction)
details (yellows) talk about the topic (green), examples
(reds) talk about (yellows), and conclusion (green) says the
same thing as the topic sentence in a different way.

3. Practice identifying sentence organization (ie., topics,

details, examples, and conclusions)
• (Student pg. B) Color code paragraph B1 using a document
projector or overhead. Have students do this with you on
their copies.
• Have students attempt to color code paragraph B2
independently. Then, show them the correct way, & allow
them to make changes.

1. Have students recreate the first poster with the arrows

Day 2 using markers and a blank sheet of paper.
(Direct ~This makes a nice cover page for writer’s
Instruction) workshop folders.

2. Use (Student pg. C) to explain that there are many ways to

organize writing.
• Methods may look different; but, the organization is the same.
• Tell them: “Writers can have any number of details and
examples. The important thing is that the details go with the
topic, and the examples go with the details they follow. Finally,
the conclusion should restate the topic sentence.”

3. (Student pg. D) Have students color code another paragraph

for additional practice. Correct it with them, & allow them to
correct theirs if needed.

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 Paragraph Writing

Day 3 1. Write a paragraph together as a class.

• Use (Student pg. E)

• Give them the topic “Parties”, and ask for ideas for a topic
sentence. Have everyone write the topic sentence next to the
first green crayon, while you also model using a document
projector or overhead.
• Ask for a detail about the topic sentence, and have everyone
write it next to the yellow crayon.
• Ask for another detail, that is different from the first, but still
supports the topic sentence. Skip down, and write it next to
the 2nd yellow crayon. (This helps them see the overall
organization, instead of just viewing it as a linear process.)
• Have the kids go back and look at the first detail/yellow. Ask
them to think of an example sentence they could write down
next to the red crayon.
• Have them look at the second yellow/detail, and do the same.
• Finally, re-read the topic sentence, & as a class, decide on a
way to restate it. Everyone should write this conclusion
sentence next to the last green crayon.

2. Have students re-write this as a complete paragraph.

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 Paragraph Writing

Day 4 1. Give students a topic (ex. If I were a millionaire), and have

them do Student pg. E individually as you walk around and
(Guided
provide assistance as needed.
Practice)

2. Have them re-write it as a complete paragraph.

Day 5 1. Use Student pg. F to review the many ways writers can
(Independent organize writing. Remind them that they have been given a
Practice) certain number of details to use, but as they mature as writers
they will be allowed to use different amounts of details/yellows
and examples/reds.

Continued ~ Continue having students practice by following this

Practice procedure. Use different topics. When students have mastered
this basic paragraph format, allow them to draft their
paragraphs on binder paper. They can use crayon marks in the
margin to differentiate topic sentence, details, examples, and
conclusions.
* In my classroom, I would often give them a topic and
tell them to write a paragraph using 3 to 4 yellows/details and
at least 2 reds/examples.

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 5
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 Name:______________

Color Code Date: ______________

Use a crayon, in the color shown below, to underline the main idea, a
detail, and examples.

Main Idea Detail Example

Green Yellow Red

The Blacksmith

One important person in every colonial

town was the blacksmith. The blacksmith did a
lot of hard work. He used a fire and hammers
to bend the metal used in his work. He had a
general knowledge of how to make and repair
many things. The blacksmith made horseshoes
and repaired wagons and carriages. If they did
not have a blacksmith, a colonial town would be
forced to go without much needed items.

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B1
 Name:______________

Color Code Date: ______________

Use a crayon, in the color shown below, to underline the main idea, a
detail, and examples.

Main Idea Detail Example

Green Yellow Red

The Blacksmith

One important person in every colonial

town was the blacksmith. The blacksmith did a
lot of hard work. He used a fire and hammers
to bend the metal used in his work. He had a
general knowledge of how to make and repair
many things. The blacksmith made horseshoes
and repaired wagons and carriages. If they did
not have a blacksmith, a colonial town would be
forced to go without much needed items.

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B1
 Name:______________

Color Code Date: ______________

Use a crayon, in the color shown below, to underline the main idea, a
detail, and examples.

Main Idea Detail Example

Green Yellow Red

My Computer

Although I often get frustrated with my

computer, I still love having one! I really like the
keyboard. The keys are easy to reach. I also
like the mouse. It has an actual mouse face
drawn on it with whiskers that stick out. The
best part of having a computer is getting to use
the printer. I can print out my pictures,
homework, and stories I write. I am lucky my
family has a computer I can use.

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B2
 Name:______________

Color Code Date: ______________

Use a crayon, in the color shown below, to underline the main idea, a
detail, and examples.

Main Idea Detail Example

Green Yellow Red

My Computer

Although I often get frustrated with my

computer, I still love having one! I really like the
keyboard. The keys are easy to reach. I also
like the mouse. It has an actual mouse face
drawn on it with whiskers that stick out. The
best part of having a computer is getting to use
the printer. I can print out my pictures,
homework, and stories I write. I am lucky my
family has a computer I can use.

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B2
 6 Sentences
Topic Sentence
5 Sentences - Detail
Topic Sentence Example
- Detail - Detail
- Detail Example
- Detail Conclusion
Conclusion
8 Sentences
Topic Sentence
- Detail
7 Sentences Example
Topic Sentence - Detail
- Detail Example
Example - Detail
10 Sentences
- Detail Example
Topic Sentence
Example Conclusion
- Detail
Example Example
Conclusion - Detail
Example
- Detail
Example
- Detail
Example
Conclusion
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10
C
 Name:______________

Color Code Date: ______________

Use a crayon, in the color shown below, to underline the main idea, a
detail, and examples.

Main Idea Detail Example

Green Yellow Red

The Stork

Stork nests are often very large and

may be used for many years. The stork is a
large, clumsy looking bird. It has long legs, a
long neck, and a very long bill. Most years they
return to the exact same nest. The nests are
built on roofs or in trees. Each year they add
more sticks to it. Some nests have been known
to grow to over two meters (six feet) in
diameter and about three meters (ten feet) in
depth. Some storks use only one nest in their
lifetime.

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D
 Name:______________

Color Code Date: ______________

Use a crayon, in the color shown below, to underline the main idea, a
detail, and examples.

Main Idea Detail Example

Green Yellow Red

The Stork

Stork nests are often very large and

may be used for many years. The stork is a
large, clumsy looking bird. It has long legs, a
long neck, and a very long bill. Most years they
return to the exact same nest. The nests are
built on roofs or in trees. Each year they add
more sticks to it. Some nests have been known
to grow to over two meters (six feet) in
diameter and about three meters (ten feet) in
depth. Some storks use only one nest in their
lifetime.

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D
 Plan Your Paragraph Name:______________

Date: ______________
Topic Sentence
Green ________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Detail
Yellow ________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Example
Red ________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Detail
Yellow
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Example
Red
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Conclusion
Green ________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
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E
 Traditionally Numbered

Conclusion Sentence

Using Shapes Graphic Organizer

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F
 Name:______________

Date: ______________

Traditional Outline

Topic: _____________________________________________

I. __________________________________________________
A. _____________________________________________
1. __________________________________________
a. __________________________________________
b. __________________________________________
2. __________________________________________
a. __________________________________________
b. __________________________________________
B. ______________________________________________
1. __________________________________________
a. __________________________________________
b. __________________________________________
2. __________________________________________
a. __________________________________________
b. __________________________________________

Conclusion Sentence:______________________________

________________________________________________

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 Name:______________

Date: ______________

Numbered Outline

Topic: _____________________________________________

1. _________________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________

3. __________________________________________

3. __________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________

3. __________________________________________

3. __________________________________________

Conclusion Sentence:______________________________

________________________________________________

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 Name:______________

Date: ______________

Shapes Outline

Topic: _____________________________________________

1. _________________________________________________

-- ______________________________________________

3. __________________________________________

-- ______________________________________________

3. __________________________________________

3. __________________________________________

Conclusion Sentence:______________________________

________________________________________________

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 Name:______________

Date: ______________

Title:_______________
Detail

Detail Detail
Main Idea

Detail 18

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 Name:______________

Date: ______________

Title:_______________

19

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 Name:______________

Date: ______________

Title:_______________

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 16 Writing Prompts

1. The best present I could give _____ would be ______.

(why?)

2. 3 Things that make you happy

3. My favorite grade is ____ because ______.

4. If I could pick a superpower, I would choose ______

because____.

5. My favorite thing to do is______. (why?)

6. I wish I knew more about _____ . (why?)

7. What makes a good friend?

8. If I had a million dollars ________.

9. If an animal could talk, what would it say?

10. If I could invent anything it would be_____.

11. When I grow up I want to_________.

12. A surprise party

13. The best thing about today is _________.

14. The best vacation

15. If I had 3 wishes _______.

16. If I could choose any pet it would be _______. (why?)

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 Writing Rubric
4 – Advanced

Neat
Easy to read
Provides details, examples
Explains thoughts
Powerful words
Self – edits
Specific
Correct spelling
Correct punctuation
Grammatically Correct
Well-written
Complete
Vivid
Uses expression!

3 – Proficient

Explains answers
Very few errors, if any
Interesting
Complete Sentences
Self – edits
Legible (readable)
Expressive

2 – Basic

Understandable
Simple responses
Basic vocabulary
Some detail
Doesn’t follow all directions
Poor punctuation
Repetitive

1 – Below Basic

Confusing
Misspellings
Capitalization errors
Incomplete
Messy
Does not self - edit

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