kindergarten early in march the following samples were written by kindergarten children in early...

Words about the topic

TOPIC

Draw and color a picture about this topic

© 2003 E.S. Ellis www.GraphicOrganizers.com B1


TOPIC



playing in the snow


TOPIC



make a snowman

playing in the snow


TOPIC



make a snowman

throw snowballs

playing in the snow


TOPIC



make a snowman

throw snowballs

playing in the snow

build a fort


TOPIC



make a snowman

throw snowballs

need warm clothes

playing in the snow

build a fort

Kindergarten early in March

The following samples were written by Kindergarten children in early March

Kindergarten early in March

Kindergarten, toward end of March

The following examples were written in November by students in second grade.

These examples were students first attempt at using the think-sheets.

The teacher and class co-constructed the think-sheets (We Do It), and students then independently wrote their essays.

Assign orderPreview words to use List ideas Note ideas in complete sentences

State conclusion

Purpose Audience TOPIC HookTell a story Write about something

Assign orderPreview words to use

List ideas Note ideas in complete sentences

1

State conclusion

Purpose Audience TOPIC Hook

x Granny Birthday party Ever been really surprised?

Pizza trick

Pizza, ice cream, cake

This was the best birthday ever.

Lots of presents

Birthday cake

ice cream

basketball

Daddy-clown

orange hair

Pizza Palace

Video tape

video games

Clown video

11

2

3

4

Best friends came

5

Last week, Mom stopped at the Pizza Palace and sent me in to pick up an order. It was a trick to surprise me with a birthday party.

My best friends were there. When I walked in, they yelled “SURPRISE!” I was really shocked. I could even speak.

I got lots of cool presents, but the best one was the basketball you sent me. I’ve wanted one for a long time. I also got some cool video games.

First we ate pizza. Then I opened presents. Dad came out with my birthday cake. We had chocolate ice cream with it.

Mom video taped the whole thing. It is really funny. I hope you get to watch it. Dad had orange hair and a weird clown suit on.

Dear Granny,

Have your ever been really surprised? Last week, Mom stopped at the Pizza Palace and sent me in to pick up an order. It was a trick to surprise me with a birthday party. My best friends were there. When I walked in, they yelled “SURPRISE!” I was really shocked. I couldn’t even speak. I got lots of cool presents, but the best one was the basketball you sent me. I’ve wanted one for a long time. I also got some cool video games. First we ate pizza. Then I opened presents. Dad came out with my birthday cake. We had chocolate ice cream with it. Mom video taped the whole thing. It is really funny. I hope you get to watch it. Dad had orange hair and a weird clown suit on. This was the best birthday ever.

Love, Jamil

2DaPurpose Audience Topic Hook

Describe Explain

Tell a story Persuade

Assign orderPreview words to use List ideas Note ideas in complete sentencesSEE

HEAR

SMELL

TOUCH

TASTE

State conclusion

TRANSITION WORDS: first, second, third, etc., next, throughout, beside, between, among, when, where, as well as, after, before, after, finally, later, suddenly, immediately, as soon as, until,

This is about

___ Some one who …___ Something that…___Someplace where ……

2DaPurpose Audience Topic Hook

Describe Explain


Assign orderPreview words to use List ideas Note ideas in complete sentencesSEE

HEAR

SMELL

TOUCH

TASTE

State conclusion


This is about

___ Some one who …___ Something that…___Someplace where ……

2

3

1

5

4

x

Teacher Backyard BBQ World’s best food is in backyard

… is one of my favorite things to do on a holiday

Slab of ribs Smoke coming out of BBQ

Potato chipsCooler

White bread

Paper plates

charcoal

Black grill

Hickory chips

Sizzling of ribs as grease drips on fireribs smoking on the grill

Sticky BBQ sauce

Delicious BBQ ribs

The jet-black grill has smoking pouring out of all the cracks around the lid and from the little smokestack.

I love the sound of the ribs sizzling as drops of grease drop onto the hot fiery coals.

You’ll probably smell the ribs smoking on the grill long before you see the grill.

After you’ve eaten all you can, your hands and face will be covered with sticky sauce.Just the thought of chowing down on those delicious ribs makes my mouth water.

I'm ready for some BBQ right now!

x

2Da

Someplace where…

Purpose Audience Topic Hook



State conclusion

2

3

x

Backyard BBQWorld’s best food is in backyard

Teacher

… is one of my favorite things to do on a holiday

Smoke coming out of BBQ

Sizzling of ribs as grease drips on fire

ribs smoking on the grill

Sticky BBQ sauce

Delicious BBQ ribs

I love the sound of the ribs sizzling as drops of grease drop onto the hot fiery coals.

You’ll probably smell the ribs smoking on the grill long before you see the grill.

After you’ve eaten all you can, your hands and face will be covered with sticky sauce. Just the thought of chowing down on those delicious ribs makes my mouth water.

I’m ready for some BBQ right now!

Slab of ribs

charcoal

Black grill

Hickory chips

Potato chips

Cooler

Paper plates

White bread

The jet-black grill has smoking pouring out of all the cracks around the lid and from the little smokestack.

The world’s best food is not in an expensive restaurant. It’s the BBQ ribs sitting next to the potato chips, pickles, paper plates and stack of white bread on the picnic table in my backyard. You’ll probably smell the ribs smoking on the grill long before you see smoke pouring out of the cracks around the lid and from the little smokestack of the jet-black grill. I love the sound of the ribs sizzling as drops of grease drop onto the hot fiery coals. Just the thought of gobbling up those delicious ribs makes my mouth water. After you’ve eaten just one, your hands and face will be covered with sticky sauce that feels like glue. Just thinking about this makes me ready for some ribs right now!

1

5

4

2Na

Background information


Describe Explain


Assign orderPreview words to use List ideas Note ideas in complete sentencesWHO

WHAT

WHEN

WHERE

HOW

State conclusion


2Na



Describe Explain


Assign orderPreview words to use List ideas Note ideas in complete sentencesWHO

WHAT

WHEN

WHERE

HOW

State conclusion


Camping Trip Do you like camping?

My friends

Uncle Scott lives in Colorado. We planned to visit him.

Dad, Mom, David & I

Went hiking & fly fishing

Summer vacation

Colorado mountains

Stayed in a camping trailer

Last summer, Dad, Mom, my brother David, and I went on a camping trip.

Dad took us hiking and fly fishing. Mom took us for a ride on an old train.

We left home the day after summer vacation started. It took three days of driving to get there.

We stayed in several campgrounds in the Colorado Mountains.

Dad borrowed a camping trailer that we towed behind the car. We cooked breakfast and dinner on a campfire.

Camping in Colorado was the best trip ever.

camping

Colorado

mountains

hiking

fishing

camping trailer

train

vacation

1

5

2

4

3

Do you like camping? Last summer, I went on a great camping trip. We went to Colorado to visit my Uncle Scott. Dad, Mom, my brother, David, and I went camping with him. We left home the day after summer vacation started. It took three days of driving to get there. When we got there, Dad borrowed a camping trailer that we towed behind the car. Next we drove up into the mountains a found a camping spot. That night we cooked on a campfire. During the next several days, we stayed in several campgrounds in the Colorado Mountains. Dad took us hiking the first few days. Later he took us fly fishing. On our last day in Colorado, Mom took us for a ride on an old train. Camping in Colorado was the best trip ever!





State conclusion

Camping TripDo you like camping?My friends

Uncle Scott lives in Colorado. We planned to visit him.

Dad, Mom, David & I

Went hiking & fly fishing

Summer vacation

Colorado mountains

Stayed in a camping trailer

Last summer, Dad, Mom, my brother David, and I went on a camping trip.

Dad took us hiking and fly fishing. Mom took us for a ride on an old train.

We left home the day after summer vacation started. It took three days of driving to get there.

We stayed in several campgrounds in the Colorado Mountains.

Dad borrowed a camping trailer that we towed behind the car. We cooked breakfast and dinner on a campfire.

Camping in Colorado was the best trip ever.

camping

Colorado

mountains

hiking

fishing

camping trailer

train

vacation

1

5

2

4

3

The Colorado Camping Trip

Preview words to use List ideas Assign order Note ideas in complete sentences

people who like scary stuff

Perdido Cemetery Like haunted houses?Purpose Audience Topic Hook

Describe Explain


This is about:

Someone who …

Something that …

Somewhere that …

Is a spooky cemetery we like to visit at night for a thrill

tombstones seem to move

indentions in the ground are old caved-in graves

smells musty – rotting stuff

night sounds - owls, leaves rustling

2What it’s like at night

old crumbly tombstones, falling over, stained

huge oak trees with Spanish moss

rusty metal fence with a broken gate

grass and bushes have gone wild

1 How it looks

State conclusion If you think you are brave enough, I’ll take you there one night. We’ll see how brave you really are

old tombstones

rusty fence

wild bushes

huge oak trees

caved-in graves

smells like death

creepy noises

scariest at night

3D

x

The Perdido Cemetery If you like visiting haunted houses at Halloween, you’ll love visiting what’s in the woods behind my house. It’s an old, abandoned cemetery! As I describe this place, you’ll agree that it’s better than any fake haunted house you’ve been to. Its name is the Perdido Cemetery. “Perdido” is a Spanish word that means, “lost.” It is a perfect name for this place. You have to walk through the woods to get there. The first thing you’ll notice is the old, rusty gate and fence. Naturally, the gate is broken and hanging at a crooked angle. Inside the fence are huge oak trees that have Spanish moss sleepily hanging from every limb. The graveyard has been abandoned, so the grass and bushes have gone wild and grown tall and scraggly. They hide most of the tombstones. The old crumbly tombstones are stained. Some lean over like they are trying to look down, and others have fallen over completely. The scariest time to go is at night. The tombstones seem to move as you scan the cemetery with your flashlight. Nearly everywhere you can see are indentions in the ground that show where graves are, but whose tombstones are long gone. The indentions come from the caskets rotting away and causing a cave-in in the earth as the dirt slowly fills the cavity around the skeleton. The place smells really musty. Although what you smell is probably rotting leaves, it’s hard not to think that it’s from rotting bodies! Chances are that your visit will be complete when you hear a screech owl. Most can’t stand it any longer and want to get out of there as fast as possible when the hear that horrible sound. If you think you are brave enough, come spend the night with me. We will wait until it is late and dark before we visit the cemetery. We’ll see just how brave you really are when we take a little walk in the woods behind my house.

Is about a place that

Old tombstones

Rusty fence

Wild bushes

Caved-in graves

Smells like death

Creepy noises

Scariest at night

A spooky cemetery we like to visit at night for a thrill

Preview words to use List ideas Assign order Note ideas in complete sentence

People who like scary stuff

Perdido cemetry Like haunted houses?


So this happened …What it’s like at night

If you think you are brave enough, I’ll take you there one night. We’ll see how brave you really are.”

tombstones seem to move

indentions in the ground are old caved-in graves

smells musty – rotting stuff

night sounds - owls, leaves rustling

old crumbly tombstones, falling over, stained

huge oak trees with Spanish moss

rusty metal fence with a broken gate

grass and bushes have gone wild

This happened …How it looks

Huge oak trees

3D

State conclusion

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

3Ea

Preview words List ideas Assign order Note ideas in complete sentences


Describe Explain


This isabout explaining:

How to do something

What something is about

Why something is important

State conclusion

Caution or insight

Spelling Capitalization Omissions Punctuation Ear

3Ea



Describe Explain


This isabout explaining:

How to do something

What something is about

Why something is important

What to do if someone is choking

State conclusionRemember, in an emergency, it may be your first-aid skills that save a life!

don’t wait too long to act

If seated, may have to stand person up

don’t be afraid or embarrassed

hold on tightly

may need to repeat several times

Caution or insight

Spelling Capitalization Omissions Punctuation Ear

older kids and adults

steps to Heimlich maneuver

what if someone started choking?

people often choke on food

Heimlich

act fast

5 easy steps

remain calm

it can be gross

may seem embarrassingknowing 1st aid can save a life

stand behind the person

put your arm around person’s waist

place fist against the middle waist, just below rib cage

with other hand grab your fist

pull your fist in using a quick upward motion

3Ea


older kids and adults steps to Heimlich maneuver

Do you know how to save a friend who is choking?


What to do if someone is choking

people often choke on food

act fast

5 easy steps

Heimlich maneuver

remain calm

it can be gross

may seem embarrassing

knowing first aid can save a lifeState

conclusion Remember, in an emergency, it may be your first-aid skills that save a life!

stand behind the person don’t wait too long to act

put your arm around person’s waist If seated, may have to stand person up

place fist against the middle waist, just below rib cage

don’t be afraid or embarrassed

with other hand grab your fist hold on tightly

pull your fist in using a quick upward motion

may need to repeat several times

Heimlich Maneuver Do you know what to do if you are eating in the school cafeteria, or a restaurant, and your best friend chokes on a piece of hamburger? I can help you if you do not know what to do. Knowing first-aid is really important and the steps to theHeimlich maneuver are really simple. They are easy to learn and they may save your friend’s life. The first step of the Heimlich maneuver is to stand behind the person who is choking. Now if youare in a restaurant and notice your buddy turning blue, pointing to his throat, and making a gasping sound then it is time for you to make like your favorite super hero and spring into action. Don’t wait too long to act or your friend may die! Get up from your chair and go to the choking person. Next, put your arms around the person’s waist. The right spot is just below the ribs. This is not a time to be embarrassed about how this looks to everyone else in the place. Go ahead and do this step carefully. Now, with your other hand grab your fist. Remember to hold on tightly. Finally, pull your fist in using a quick upward motion. You may have to repeat this several times for it to work. Be prepared to see a piece of really gross food go sailing through the air and to hear strange sounds coming from the person right before they start saying thank you, thank you, thank you. A few of these steps may seem embarrassing and gross but in an emergency who cares? After all, it may be your first-aid skills that saves your best friend’s or someone else’s life.

Why, become a medical ‘time bomb.’ You are not too young to take charge of your health. Your willingness to do what it takes can add years to your life.

Spelling Capitalization Omissions Punctuation

Ear

Explanation Explanation

Adults and teens Getting a jump on health

Are you is a medical ‘time bomb!’


Describe Explain

Narrative Persuade

This isabout convincing someone…

To change his/her mind about a belief

To develop a new belief about something

To take some kind of action

Call to action

What it is you are trying to convince your audience to do?

Potentially life-threatening medical problems often grow silently1

Symptoms are not always present2

Well today, seriously ill tomorrow4

Diagnose the problem in time to do something4

Most diseases start quietly1

Reason

Medical test are not 100 % accurate1

It takes millions of cancerous cells before a scanner can detect it2

Heart=blood flow must be 70% blocked before problem is detected3

Family health history4

Regular check-ups and health maintenance

2

Reason

Take personal health seriouslyx

Take Personal Health Seriously

Tick, Tick, tick… Are you a medical ‘time bomb?’ Would you know it if you were? It is a scary thought, but most of us don’t know the condition of our body. We don’t have to live in ignorance. You can get a jump on your health by simply taking it seriously, practicing a little discipline, and visiting the doctor on a regular basis. Most diseases start quietly. Think of all the stories you have heard about adults and teens feeling perfectly healthy one day and seriously ill the next. It happens all the time. Many potentially life-threatening health problems grow silently in our bodies until it reaches crisis level. Victims of heart attacks and other diseases will often say that they had no warnings or symptoms. The lucky ones are diagnosed while their conditions are still treatable, but millions of Americans aren’t so fortunate. Regular check-ups and health maintenance is a must. You are probably saying to yourself, “That’s a no brainier,” but surprisingly a large number of people don’t take charge of their health. It helps to get screened for health problems, but medical tests are not 100% accurate. Millions of cancerous cells must be present in order for a scanner to detect a disease. With heart disease, many tests won’t detect a problem until blood flow is mare than 70% blocked. Is it a no win situation? Not totally. It helps to know your family medical history. Knowledge of your medical history is a heads up of sorts. It tells you if you are at risk for certain health problems, based on your daddy or grandfather’s health history. Ongoing research suggests some promising new directions for screening to detect medical problems. When detection practices improve we will look at personal health differently. Until that day arrives, I strongly encourage you to take charge of your personal health. Investigate your family medical history, and act on your findings. Willingness to do what it takes will add to the quality of your life. Tick, tick, tick… You do not have to be a medical ‘time bomb.’

kindergarten early in march the following samples were written by kindergarten children in early...

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