1. Feature Articles for Informational Writing
Grade 5

2. Sunset Elementary 5th Grade
Carmen Hart
Sunset Elementary 5th Grade Teacher
Gina Montgomery
Office 360—Team info

3. and meet many of the writing CCSS.
Learning Target
I can use feature articles to teach research and informational writing.
and meet many of the writing CCSS.

4. Overview Look at examples of final writing pieces written by students.
Review Lesson Plan and Unit Design
Share changes that we want to try this coming year.
Practice with Publisher

5. Read and explore mentor texts.
Day Immersion
* Assume text features have been taught already in reading lessons (Making Meaning).
Read and explore mentor texts.
Show mentor text with post it notes on it. Do a mini-lesson on feature article immersion.

7. Day 4-6 Topic & Research Last year:
Asked topic questions, brainstormed ideas whole group, and some quick writes.
Possible mini-lessons:
Note-Taking and Idea-Making for Revision (Lucy Unit 2 session 3)
Organizing information (Lucy Unit 2 session 4/5 & 12)
This year:
“Chocolate Milk” approach
Integrate with science or social studies,
Life science reading tub
Colonies
Explorer
Force and Motion
Health

8. Day 7-12 Writing & Revising
Mini-lessons could include:
Flash drafting text (Lucy Unit 2 Session 2)
Flash draft layout & text features (on 11x17 paper with sticky notes)
Paraphrasing and quoting (see anchor chart)
Introductions and conclusions (see anchor chart)
Including Text Features
Revising text
HAVE TWO WORD DOCUMENTS—ONE FOR TEXT ONE FOR TEXT FEATURES.
The text should be done in a word document first-revised and edited before moving to publisher.

9. Day 13 Publisher Practice
Use “Tsunami” article and practice moving it into publisher.

10. Day 14-15 Wrap up “Chocolate Milk” type article. Choose new topic.
Students do last revisions and publish their article in Publisher.
Brainstorm topics and choose one.
Use the mentor texts as jumping off points.
Fire & Ice:  What is a science topic you know a lot about?
King’s Dream:  Who is a famous person you know a lot about? 
More Than a Game:  What is an activity or hobby you’re really into?
The Future of Libraries:  What is a trend you notice that causes you to wonder something?
Robots:  What’s a new, cool thing? 
Schools for Girls:  What is something you’ve learned about on TV? 
Seed Vault:  What is something you never thought about but read something interesting about recently?
What is an animal you know about?  (there are tons of examples in National Geographic Kids)
Place?
Sport?
Food?

11. Day 16-20 Second Article Possible mini-lesson:
As you see needs arise in the first articles.
Quoting could be revisited
Purpose of text features
Great time for small groups.

12. Day 21 Writing Celebration
Feature article “walk”
Post them in the hallway
Make a class magazine
???? What have you done in your class.