December is such a fun time of year in the K-1 classroom! Here is a great lesson onDecember is such a fun time of year in the K-1 classroom! Here is a great lesson on  

using descriptive adjectives in your students’ opinion writing!using descriptive adjectives in your students’ opinion writing!  

SantaSanta is bored of his is bored of his beardbeard , so he asks , so he asks ElfElf forfor  help! Have fun touching thehelp! Have fun touching the amazingamazing beards in this beards in this  hilarious story, and join Santa as he searches for ahilarious story, and join Santa as he searches for a    new stylenew style!!  

  M a t e r i a l s for W r i t i n g P i e c e :M a t e r i a l s for W r i t i n g P i e c e :  

● Read aloud books about Santa ● Poster board with Santa’s face

drawn on it ● Empowering Writers opinion

sentence starters

● Sticky notes ● Student writing page  

M a t e r i a l s for A r t C o n n e c t i o n :M a t e r i a l s for A r t C o n n e c t i o n :  ● Popsicle sticks ● Glue ● Beard pattern ● Crafting materials to make their

beard or scrapbook paper ( cotton balls, yarn, foil, stickers, multi colored tissue paper, cardboard, glitter or glitter paper)

P r o c e d u r e for W r i t i n g P i e c e :P r o c e d u r e for W r i t i n g P i e c e :    ● On day one, read aloud books about Santa ● Then, have students list adjectives out loud that describe the different beards that they liked best. Teacher- list the 

adjectives on the sticky notes and post them on the poster. (allow students to add ideas that were not in the book too) ex: “Can you think of any other ideas for Santa’s beard that Elf forgot about?”  

● On the next day, allow students to choose a sticky note. Some students might need take one of the notes you wrote on and put it directly on their paper, while others will be able to copy the word into the box on their writing page. ( Scaffold this to fit each student in your classroom) 

● Want to add in an art connection?? Let your students create their own beard to go with their piece! 

E x a m p l e s :E x a m p l e s :  

I like the beard most.

(You can also use the opinion sentence starters.)

The beard that I liked best was the beard. (Another step is to have the student tell why they liked it best.)

The beard that I liked best was the beard, because _______________________.  

A r t C o n n e c t i o n :A r t C o n n e c t i o n :  Depending on grade level, either have beard pattern already cut out, or have students cut out their own.Depending on grade level, either have beard pattern already cut out, or have students cut out their own.  

Next, have students decorate their beard with the material they liked best. Then, glue it to the popsicle stickNext, have students decorate their beard with the material they liked best. Then, glue it to the popsicle stick  

and use it as a prop for them to have a Santa beard!and use it as a prop for them to have a Santa beard!  

  

Don’t have this book?? Apply the same lesson to a book you do have. Trade out the beard with a snowman orDon’t have this book?? Apply the same lesson to a book you do have. Trade out the beard with a snowman or  

any other topic you teach! Here is another book I love, that would go great with this lesson.any other topic you teach! Here is another book I love, that would go great with this lesson.    

M a t e r i a l s N e e d e d : M a t e r i a l s N e e d e d :  ● Books on snowmen or other topic ● Large piece of poster board with snowman drawn on

it ● Small sticky notes ● Student page

  

  

  

   The Lesson:The Lesson:  ● On day one, read aloud one of the books

● Next, have students call out descriptions for a snowman. What kind of snowman do they want to have? Then teacher will chart on sticky notes the different types of snowmen

● On the next day, let students choose a sticky note about a snowman they want.

● Take the sticky note off of the chart, and place it on their writing paper.

● Then use the opinion sentence starters to create a sentence about their snowman. (Remember to scaffold for different students)

~ Add in your own art connection where students create a snowman!

E x a m p l e s :E x a m p l e s :  

I like the snowman the most. (You can also use the opinion sentence starters.)

The snowman that I liked best was the snowman. (Another step is to have the student tell why they liked it best.)

The snowman that I liked best was the snowman, because _______________________.

 

Santa beard Template: 

Decorate a snowman Template: