We are deep into informational writing and my students have already worked their way through one informational piece, start to finish. Sometimes this is where I feel the RESISTANCE. They “don’t wanna do another one…..” and you can see the annoyance on their face.
A few years ago, we decided that we needed to get them hooked into their second writing piece in an authentic way. We decided to pair it with a mini-research project. During our reading block, we had read a reading selection on whales and they were ALL IN! They wanted to learn more about whales and it seemed like a natural way to tie in some writing.
I provide some structure for my students since sometimes going online to research is not time-well-spent in third grade.
Every year I let the students choose which type of whale they want to research and then provide them with some information that they could read on paper first. This helps them practice highlighting and taking notes before they get on the computers. We even give each child a note-taking/organization sheet to help them sort their facts. All of the pieces needed do to this can be found here.
Once they finish taking notes from the information we pass out, we let them venture onto the computers and iPads for more information (using quality sites).
Their favorite part of this project is definitely their final drafts! For this writing project, we take their piece all the way through publishing. I created some really fun templates that they are able to use to make their writing look just like the nonfiction books they are seeing in the library and in the classroom.
These templates really allow them to craft their work like real authors! They make choices about which page will work for each chapter of their book. They are able to make a cover, a table of contents, a glossary, and so much more! Once they finish, we put a plastic cover on (old overhead projector sheets for the win!) and bind them.
Last year they were so excited to share their books with their classmates and then again with their families. It was so rewarding to see students who were motivated when it came time for writing, instead of kids were dragging their feet.
Bonus: This one activity gave me grades for informational writing, editing, revising, research, and nonfiction text features!
*Not researching whales but like these informational writing templates? You can get just the templates here!
Have a great week!
~Heather Johnson 33
