Using a Stimulus - Independent Writing

Teach Starter Publishing
60 mins | Suitable for years: 3 - 4

A 60 minute lesson in which students will independently write an informative text, using appropriate text structure, language and features.

Tuning In

  • Explain to the students that they are now going to plan and write an informative text independently.

Teacher Instruction

  • Select one of the 5 Informative Writing Stimulus Sheets that best suits the focus content of the unit e.g. The Animal World. Project the stimulus on the board and read through it as a class. Explain to the students that they will be writing an informative text based on this stimulus.
  • Remind the students to apply their knowledge of informative text structure, language and features when writing their text. Encourage the students to refer to their copy of the Informative Text Checklist - Structure, Language and Features throughout the writing process.
  • Teachers may wish for students to formally plan or research the topic of the text before writing begins (depending on computer availability and internet access). If this is the case, provide the students with a copy of one of the Informative Texts - Scaffold Planning Sheets or the Note Taking Graphic Organiser. Remind the students to write dot point notes and to translate all information into their own words when writing their text.

Guided/Independent Learning

  • Provide the students with a copy of the Informative Texts Writing Scaffold. Monitor and support the students as they plan and write their informative texts. Teachers may wish to set a time limit for writing, or they may allow the students to take as much time as they need to complete the task. Ensure that the students know exactly how much time they have and provide regular reminders of how much time is remaining.

Wrapping Up

  • Once students have finished writing their informative texts, encourage them to proofread and edit their work.
  • Teachers may wish to collect this piece of writing and use it to assess the students' understanding of the unit objectives. The Informative Writing - Assessment Rubric may be a helpful tool for teachers during this process.

Differentiation

Extending Students

  • Encourage strong writers to select a more challenging topic for the writing task.

Supporting Students

  • Support weaker writers through the planning process, so they have a clear direction for writing.

Suggested Assessment Strategies

  • used strategic whole class or individual questioning
  • observed student participation during learning activities
  • recorded student progress on a checklist
  • annotated student work samples
  • collected and reviewed student work samples
  • facilitated whole class or peer feedback sessions
  • encouraged student self-reflection
  • administered formal assessment tasks.

Select a download

Curriculum

  • ACELY1682

    Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts demonstrating increasing control over text structures and language features and selecting print,and multimodal elements appropriate to the audience and purposeElaborationsusing pri...

  • ACELY1683

    Re-read and edit texts for meaning, appropriate structure, grammatical choices and punctuationElaborationsusing glossaries, print and digital dictionaries and spell check to edit spelling, realising that spell check accuracy depends on understanding ...

  • ACELY1694

    Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts containing key information and supporting details for a widening range of audiences, demonstrating increasing control over text structures and language featuresElaborationsusing re...

  • ACELY1695

    Re-read and edit for meaning by adding, deleting or moving words or word groups to improve content and structureElaborationsrevising written texts: editing for grammatical and spelling accuracy and clarity of the text, to improve the connection betwe...

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