1. Green Starlings Murmurations
Ask students to watch this video and be ready to explain what is happening in it.
(Birds are flying.)

2. Green Starlings Murmurations
Ask students to watch the video again and be ready to explain what makes the movement of these birds so amazing? (They all move together.)
Tell students that these birds, green starlings, fly in murmurations in order to protect themselves from predators. When they stick together, predatorial birds have a hard time seeing and catching just one. Staying together makes them stronger.
Ask students: Would the video be as amazing if there was only one bird? Why not? Would the video be as amazing if all of the birds were flying in different directions? Why not?

3. One green starling is beautiful – A murmuration is amazing.
A piece of colored glass is pretty – A stained glass window is amazing.
A snowflake is fragile – An avalanche is powerful.
When things are connected, they tend to be more powerful and more amazing.

4. Ideas are stronger when they are linked together!
Ideas are the same way! When they are connected, they are stronger and more amazing!

5. Essential Question: How can I link my ideas together to make my writing stronger and more amazing?

6. Have students listen for the topic and evidences while you read this paragraph aloud.
Have groups talk about the topic. Call on 1 student to underline the topic in green. (From “Some mothers” to “happy-go-lucky attitude.”)
Have groups talk about the first evidence. Have a student underline in yellow. (To begin with, she’s everything I want to be)
Ask students what words signaled the first evidence. (To begin with) Circle the phrase in blue.
Have groups talk about the second evidence. Have a student underline in yellow. (Next, she works out problems)
Ask students what words signaled the second evidence. (Next) Circle the word in blue.
Have groups talk about the third evidence. Have a student underline in yellow. (My mom also has a happy-go-lucky attitude because she never yells.)
Ask students what words signaled the third evidence. (also) Circle the word in blue.
Point out that the last linking word was hidden within the sentence. Where were the other linking words in their sentences? (The beginning)
When a linking word starts the sentence, it is followed by a comma.
When a linking word is in the middle of a sentence, it does not have a comma.

7. Essential Question: How can I link my ideas together to make my writing stronger and more amazing? Answer: Linking Words

8. Linking words are words that hold ideas together.
What are linking words?
Linking words are words that hold ideas together.
Optional Inquiry Activity – How can we link ideas together using words?
Choose 6 volunteers. Give each volunteer a slip of paper with a sentence from the “School is great!” paragraph.
Have the class put the students in order based on their sentences.
Ask students which sentences are the Topic & Topic Again sentences.
Ask students which sentences have to go together (Science experiments & messy; reading & choose your own books). Have the students holding these strips lock elbows.
Ask students how we know which group goes first. (We don’t.) Ask what word we could add to make it clear which set of sentences should go first. Write the suggested word on a new strip. Give the linking word strip to a new volunteer and have that volunteer lock elbows between the topic sentence and the first set of sentences.
Repeat the activity to connect the first and second evidence/support sets and the second set to the topic again.
Ask students where they need to add commas with their linking words.

9. Types of Linking Words Time Comparison / Contrast Addition Conclusion
To begin
Similarly
Another
All in all
First, second, third
In the same way
Also
In conclusion
Next
However
In addition
Then
But
These are NOT all of the linking words. These are just ideas. What other linking words do students know?
Optional Kinesthetic/Visual Activity
Give each group a strip of dark blue paper. Have them write “Linking words” on one side and “hold ideas together.” on the other side.
Assign each group a type of linking word. Give each group a strip of Columbia blue paper. Have them write the name of their type of linking word. Then have them make a chain with their dark blue “linking word” strip.
Give them each light blue strips of paper (however many they will need for the words in their type). Have them write each linking word from their type on a separate strip and add it to their chain.
Join all of the links together for a 3 dimensional anchor chart to hang on the wall.

10. How do we know which linking words to use?
Time
Comparison / Contrast
Addition
Conclusion
To begin
Similarly
Another
All in all
First, second, third
In the same way
Also
In conclusion
Next
However
In addition
Then
But
Ask students to list ways that they can tell which linking words to use in a paragraph. Use the notes below to guide them.
Time – when evidences have to go in a certain order
Comparison/Contrast – when evidences show how things are similar or different
Addition – when evidences are just giving information
Conclusion – when evidences are at the end of a paragraph

11. How do we know which linking words to use: Time, comparison/contrast, addition, conclusion?
Recess is my favorite part of the school day. I love to play on the monkey bars. Once I made it across three bars with one swing. Playing football is a fun activity. I enjoy it the most when all of my friends join in and play together. Sometimes I just want to relax. Swinging is a great way to slow down and enjoy the afternoon. I am so glad that we have a chance to play or relax every day during recess.
Ask students which type of linking words would fit this paragraph. Use the notes below to guide them.
Time – No, these activities don’t have to go in this order
Comparison/Contrast – No, we aren’t comparing or contrasting the activities
Addition – Yes, these evidences give more information
Conclusion – Yes, a conclusion link could be used for the last evidence

12. How do we know which linking words to use?
Recess is my favorite part of the school day. I love to play on the monkey bars. Once I made it across three bars with one swing. Playing football is a fun activity. I enjoy it the most when all of my friends join in and play together. Sometimes I just want to relax. Swinging is a great way to slow down and enjoy the afternoon. I am so glad that we have a chance to play or relax every day during recess.
Addition
Conclusion
Another
All in all
Also
In conclusion
In addition
Which linking words would you use?
Where would you put them?
Where do you need commas?
At the beginning of a sentence = commas
In the middle of a sentence = no comma

13. Small group Linking word Revision
Time
Comparison / Contrast
Addition
Conclusion
To begin
Similarly
Another
All in all
First, second, third
In the same way
Also
In conclusion
Next
However
In addition
Then
But
Give small groups the “Proud of Myself” paragraph.
Differentiation – Give students strips of paper with sentences for the “Proud of Myself” paragraph. Have them organize the sentences in a logical order, decide which type of linking words would best fit this paragraph, and insert linking words into the paragraph.