Activity 1

Read through the following description of a writing activity for the 7^th grade and complete the mix and match activity below.

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1. Engagement:
   • Choice of Topic: Allow students to choose from a list of prompts or write about a place of their own choosing. Examples of prompts might include:
     • Describe your favorite park.
     • Describe a special room in your home.
     • Describe a memorable vacation spot.
   • Interest-Based Options: Provide options for students to express their creativity, such as drawing a picture of the place they describe or creating a digital slideshow.
2. Representation:
   • Visual Supports: Provide graphic organizers to help students plan their paragraphs. These organizers can include sections for sensory details (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch).
   • Auditory Supports: Offer an audio recording that explains the elements of a descriptive paragraph and provides examples. Include a podcast or a short video that demonstrates effective descriptive writing.
   • Text Supports: Provide simplified instructions, examples of descriptive paragraphs, and vocabulary lists to support students with different reading levels and language proficiencies.
3. Action/Expression:
   • Flexible Formats: Allow students to choose how they present their descriptive paragraph:
     • Written Paragraph: Traditional text format.
     • Oral Presentation: Record themselves reading their paragraph.
     • Visual Presentation: Create a digital slideshow or poster with text and images.
   • Tools and Resources: Provide access to word processors with spell-check features, speech-to-text tools, or drawing apps to assist with the creation of their descriptions.

Steps for the Activity

1. Introduction (10 minutes):
   • Explain the Task: Describe the objective and provide examples of descriptive paragraphs. Use visual aids (e.g., sample paragraphs) and audio explanations to clarify the task.
   • Provide Graphic Organizers: Distribute graphic organizers and explain how to use them to plan their writing. Show how to fill in details for each sensory element.
2. Activity (30 minutes):
   • Planning: Students use the graphic organizer to brainstorm and plan their paragraph. They can choose their topic from the provided prompts or come up with their own.
   • Writing: Students write their descriptive paragraph, using the organizer to guide them. They can use digital tools if they prefer.
   • Choice of Expression: Students choose their preferred method of presenting their paragraph (written text, oral recording, or visual presentation).
3. Sharing and Feedback (15 minutes):
   • Presentations: Students share their paragraphs in their chosen format. Allow time for each student to present their work.
   • Peer Feedback: Facilitate a feedback session where students provide constructive feedback to each other. Use a structured format for feedback (e.g., “I liked how you described…,” “Next time, you might add more details about…”).
4. Reflection (5 minutes):
   • Class Discussion: Discuss what was learned from the activity and how different sensory details enhance writing. Reflect on the different methods of expression and what students found most effective.
   • Exit Ticket: Have students complete a brief exit ticket where they reflect on one thing they learned about descriptive writing and one challenge they faced.