$5 - $10 5th Grade Writing-Essays Activities

Sizzle up your classroom with our Summer Picture Prompts narrative writing resource! This sun-soaked toolkit guides students through the narrative writing process, with the warmth and adventure of summer serving as their muse. From beach escapades to mysterious summer camps, each photo prompt is a splash into the ocean of creativity and narrative exploration.

What’s Inside:

• 23 Radiant Slides: A visual voyage that covers the nuts and bolts of a plot diagram, unveils the magic of showing vs. telling, and showcases 10 vibrant, summer-themed photo prompts.
• 10 Sizzling Summer Photo Prompts: Handpicked images that encapsulate the spirit of summer, igniting the spark of creativity in budding writers.
• In-depth Writing Guides: Accompanying each photo prompt is a 2-page planning guide, primed to assist students in brainstorming the sunlit settings, dynamic characters, and simmering conflicts, setting the stage for captivating stories.
• Show vs. Tell: Easy-to-grasp examples that show students how to vivify their stories, turning their writing into a vivid summer blockbuster.

Perfect For:

• ☑️ Creative Writing Classes under the sweltering sun
• ☑️ Choice Boards for sunny selection
• ☑️ Extension Activities for those long summer days
• ☑️ Writing Units that need a splash of warmth
• ☑️ Homework Assignments as bright as the summer sky

Why You’ll Love It:

• ☑️ Ignites Creativity: Encourages students to don their creative hats, crafting unique stories inspired by engaging picture prompts.
• ☑️ Boosts Writing Skills: Leads students through the narrative writing cycle, from brainstorming to the final bow, polishing their writing prowess.
• ☑️ Instills Key Writing Principles: Offers a practical approach to mastering crucial writing concepts like plot unfolding and sensory detail.
• ☑️ Versatile & Malleable: Perfect for a week of narrative adventures, a single sunlit class period, or integrated into a broader curriculum, adapting seamlessly to your teaching needs.
• ☑️ Ready-to-Use Ease: All set for immediate use, whether printed for a hands-on experience or shared digitally, easing your prep time under the sun.

Transform your teaching this summer with tales that are as vibrant and boundless as the season itself. Our Summer Picture Prompts resource isn’t just a collection of activities; it’s a launchpad into storytelling, critical thinking, and joy-filled writing. Whether you’re embarking on a creative writing voyage, searching for meaningful homework under the stars, or in need of lively extension activities, these picture prompts are your treasure map to a world of imaginative writing.

Let the spirit of summer fuel your classroom’s stories. Add our Summer Picture Prompts to your teaching arsenal today and watch your students’ writing blossom under the summer sun!

Are you an AVID teacher looking for an easy way for students to learn and practice the focus note taking process while learning about primary versus secondary sources? Are your students about to begin an essay and need an explanation on using sources in writing? You came to the right place! This AVID Focused Note Taking Lesson Plan with Google Slides and Applying Learning opportunities has everything you need to have your students practice the very important skill of note taking while learning the importantce and benefits of using primary or secondary sources in their writing. This lesson is ready to go! Teach whole group OR have students follow along by sharing the google slides link with them. This way they have access to all the links provided!

What's Included:

• Lesson plan that walks you through the slides
• Video overview/explanations for students and teacher
• 40 Google Slides with links embedded throughout
• 1 editable slide to add your own information
• Embedded links for: Costa's Level of Thinking, Exit Ticket, 2 Column Notes

Note Taking Process and Lesson:

• Students will practice focused note taking while learning about using primary and secondary sources for writing.
• At the end of the lesson students will apply what they learned through a This or That game along with an exit ticket where they will find primary and secondary sources for 3 major events.

Click HERE to see our other AVID resources. We also have several great AVID bundle options available down below!

AVID Mega Growing Bundle

AVID Teambuilding Bundle

AVID Writing Bundle

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This engaging Adopt a Pal trendy activity designed specifically for upper elementary students grades 3-5. This captivating end-of-year adventure will have your students immersed in a world of storytelling and imagination using narrative writing. It's the perfect way to get your students excited about writing again. You can scaffold for your students by providing them writing prompt starters or choose the Create Your Own path and let them write a story from scratch. Everything you need is included and ready to use, just add a little but of student imagination. Beat the end of the year slump with a fun activity!

What's Included:

☑ Pal Booklet: A comprehensive guide for students to chronicle their Peep's unique journey.

☑ Black and White & Color Versions: Choose between black and white or vibrant color options.

☑ Narrative Prompts: Inspiring story starters to ignite creativity and enhance narrative skills.

☑ Narrative Planning Sheets: Differentiated Structured worksheets to aid students in organizing their Peep's story.

☑ Babysitting Ad Template: Craft a convincing ad to seek the ideal babysitter for their Peep.

☑ Birth Certificate: Personalize a birth certificate for their newly adopted Peep.

☑ "Coming Soon" Poster: Generate anticipation with a teaser poster for the Peep adoption event.

☑ Teacher Tips: Clear, concise guidance for teachers

This delightful activity was a resounding success in my own fourth-grade classroom, providing a fun and meaningful way to conclude the school year. Students will relish the opportunity to adopt and nurture their very own Pal character while refining vital writing and planning abilities.

Whether you seek an end-of-year project, a creative writing exercise, or a distinct classroom activity, "Adopt a Pal" is the ideal addition to your curriculum.

Need Help or Have Questions?
If you have any questions or need assistance with this product, feel free to reach out to me at ashlee@msgamification.com. I'm here to help!

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Transform STAAR writing preparation into an exhilarating adventure with our "ECR Relay Race" resource! Designed specifically for grades 6-8, this product turns the daunting task of essay writing into a collaborative, fun, and competitive experience. Dive into high-engaging topics while practicing informational, argumentative, and correspondence writing skills critical for STAAR success.

✅ Engaging Topics for Every Genre:

• Informational ECRs: Explore Texas Rodeo, Texas State Fair, and NASA's monumental contributions.
• Argumentative ECRs: Delve into captivating debates like Selena vs. Beyonce, Roblox vs. Minecraft, and Messi vs. Ronaldo.
• Correspondence ECR: Address real-world issues in letters concerning Ocean pollution, VR headsets in education, and Sports accessibility for students with disabilities.

✅ Collaborative Learning: Encourage teamwork with relay races that make writing a shared journey. Students can work together or individually, pushing them to think critically and write effectively.

✅ Interactive Progress Tracking: Watch as students advance their stick figure characters across the board with each completed paragraph, igniting a sense of accomplishment and urgency.

✅ Comprehensive ECR Refresher: Kickstart your classes with 15 slides designed to refresh students on ECR essentials, providing a solid foundation for success.

✅ Inclusive Support Materials: Includes sentence stems for each writing genre, aiding students in structuring their thoughts and arguments clearly and cohesively.

✅ Fun, Engaging, and Educational: Our resource is not just about STAAR prep; it's about creating memorable learning experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, and a love for writing.

Prepare your students for STAAR writing with a resource that’s as educational as it is exhilarating. Make test preparation something students look forward to with our ECR Relay Race. Perfect for teachers seeking innovative, engaging ways to enhance writing skills and STAAR readiness.

Inspire your middle school students to craft vivid narratives with this autumn-themed essay planning guide. This resource includes 10 high-quality, fall-themed photos, from a turkey taking a trip, to a mysterious ghost family feast, to a lone parade float on an abandoned street, perfect for sparking imagination and guiding students through the narrative writing process.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop the ability to plan and draft a narrative story that captivates and engages.
• Foster creativity and ensure narratives include all essential elements of a well-structured narrative text.

What's Inside:

• A structured 5-day cycle for each picture prompt, guiding students from initial brainstorming to the final draft.
• Detailed graphic organizers are designed to help students explore the setting, characters, conflict, and resolution in depth.
• A GoogleSlides presentation with each high-interest photo for classroom projection, making it easy to introduce each new writing prompt.

How to Use:

• Day 1: Project the photo prompt using the slides and encourage students to brainstorm ideas with the help of the graphic organizer.
• Day 2: Begin drafting the narrative, drawing inspiration from the projected image.
• Day 3: Continue the narrative, weaving in details and developing the plot.
• Day 4: Conduct peer or teacher feedback sessions, followed by revisions and editing.
• Day 5: Publish the final narrative piece, celebrating the students' completed work.

Standards Alignment:

• Aligned with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3 through W.8.3, ensuring that the resource meets educational standards for narrative writing.

Formats Available:

• A ready-to-use PDF for printouts and a Google Slides for easy classroom display.

Usage Scenario:

• Ideal for middle school teachers to use as a standalone writing unit, an extension activity, or as part of a choice board for students.

Highlights:

• Engaging and diverse photo prompts: Each image is selected to appeal to middle school students, with themes including technology, society, animals, aviation, and more.
• Ready for the classroom: With the PowerPoint slides, you can easily introduce each writing prompt, while the print-ready PDFs make preparation quick and effortless.

Transform your classroom's approach to narrative writing with this engaging, standards-aligned essay planning guide. Watch as your students' creativity takes flight with each captivating photo prompt!

Looking for a high-engagement, standards-aligned resource to teach argumentative writing? This Thanksgiving Argument Writing Unit is perfect for middle school (grades 6-8) and provides four unique Thanksgiving-themed writing prompts that help students practice developing claims, providing evidence, and addressing counterarguments and rebuttals.
This resource includes:

• A full lesson plan designed for a 75-minute class, guiding students through argument writing with structured slides and engaging activities.

• Four thought-provoking Thanksgiving debate topics, including:

• "Should Black Friday be banned due to its impact on society?"

• "Is it ethical to celebrate Thanksgiving given the historical conflicts with Native Americans?"

• "Should Thanksgiving Day parades be canceled due to their environmental impact?"

• "Should Thanksgiving football games be banned on the holiday?"

• Slides and Guided Notes: Step-by-step instruction on writing an argumentative essay using claims, evidence, counterarguments, and rebuttals.

• Practice Activities: Hands-on exercises to help students identify and write each part of an argument.

• Templates for Writing: Easy-to-use templates for students to organize their essays and develop their writing.

This unit is ideal for teaching the basics of argumentative writing in a fun, seasonal way, with relevant and engaging Thanksgiving topics that students care about. It's also perfect for debate prewriting, essay interventions, or building towards state assessments like STAAR.
What’s Included:

• Complete 60-minute lesson plan
• 4 Thanksgiving-themed argument writing prompts
• Guided notes and practice passages
• Slide deck covering key writing components (claim, evidence, counterargument, rebuttal)

Help your students develop strong, clear arguments while engaging with Thanksgiving traditions in a meaningful way. Perfect for teaching argumentative writing and improving students' ability to express their ideas logically and persuasively!

Keep students engaged at the end of the school year with with our week-long ELA unit for "Examination Day" by Henry Slesar. Designed for the curious middle school mind, this all-inclusive resource is your ticket to end-of-year engagement, student-led discourse, and rich academic conversations. Perfect for grades 6-8, our flexible materials invite students to think critically and creatively as they navigate a story of suspense and societal introspection.

What's Included:

• Text Included Jumpstart engaging classroom discussions with the included text, "Examination Day," poised to captivate your students.
• Dynamic Presentation Slides: Bring the narrative to life and streamline your teaching experience with our ready-to-use slides.
• Structured Socratic Seminar: Our detailed procedures and evidence writing guides promote deep, analytical, and student-driven discussions.
• Engaging Choice Board Activities: Offer a personalized learning experience with creative assignments like alternate endings, comic strips, and more.
• Comprehensive Essay Prompts: Challenge your students with argumentative, informational, and correspondence writing exercises, all crafted to reinforce critical thinking.
• Comparative Analysis Tool: A film vs. text Venn diagram activity to sharpen analytical skills and media comprehension.

Perfect For:

• End-of-Year Engagement: Maintain the learning momentum right up to the final bell with thought-provoking content that students love.
• Ready-to-Go Sub Plans: Comprehensive and easy to navigate, these plans ensure productive learning even when you can't be there.
• Mini Dystopian Unit: Seamlessly integrate with existing units on "The Pedestrian" and "All Summer in a Day" for an expansive dystopian exploration.

Ideal Pairing: Complement this unit with our Complete Week-Long Dystopian Unit Plan for "The Pedestrian" and All Summer in a Day Seminar and Choice Board, and watch as your classroom transforms into a hub of critical analysis and passionate debate.

Gear up for a lesson plan that promises not just to meet standards but to exceed them, ensuring your students are not only ready for their tests but are also equipped to question and evaluate the world around them. Make "Examination Day" the highlight of your teaching year and witness student engagement soar!

Included in this 12 week unit: Ultimate Middle School Short Story Bundle: 12 Week Engaging Suspense ELA Units (TeachShare.com)