Memoir

Memoir Writing

Memoir Journal .. Diary… Personal Narrative …

 

Book Title/Cover Memoir Overview Objective Lesson Links & Black Line Masters
Number 21 recalls an event in author Nancy Hundal’s life in which her Dad brings home a new truck. Readers are lead on a mini mystery as the truck is used in an unconventional way on a hot summer day. Well written memoirs are based on ideas that have a very tight focus. In this lesson, Nancy’s book is used as a mentor text to model the narrow writing focus we want our students to have. Generating memoir topics at the beginning of the unit


Writing Trait: Ideas      

Generating Ideas

 

To prevent his son from being injured, mother mouse wraps her son in cotton balls. Will this protective coating protect her son from injury. Adding details  about getting an “owwie” is the objective of this lesson. As students share their owwie stories, they are encourage to add more details. First aid supplies are used to trigger more verbal and written details.

Writing Trait:  Ideas

Cottonball Colin Kindergarten

Cotton Ball Colin BLM for K writing

Cottonball Colin Kindergarten Examples thanks to Kim Reynolds’ and Jan Maund’s Ks and ones.

Two very different friends explore what it would be like to be more like the other. The objective of this lesson is to have young students add details or elaborate on one idea.

Writing Trait: Ideas

Me and You Lesson


There are lots of new things in kindergarten. tiptoe into offers a glimpse into the first days of school when doing things with others may be a bit overwhelming. The objective of this lesson is to teach young children how to elaborate or add details about one topic using Lori Rog’s Five Finger strategy.

Writing Trait: Ideas

Tiptoe into kindergarten Lesson


While students and teacher walk to the park, the last child in the line sees something that no one else sees and the creativity begins. Students create their own squiggles using string or markers, then turn them into something imaginative.

Writing Trait: Ideas

The Squiggle Lesson

Be careful with that stick… or is it a stick? This book provides creative inspiration. In this lessons, students think of different things that a stick might become. This is not a stick, it’s a magician’s wand!

Writing Trait: Ideas

Not a Stick Lesson

There are lots of things to see, taste, and catch while taking a walk through the seasons.

In this lesson, kindergarten students will draw detailed pictures with labels to show seasonal differences. If completed during the different seasons, these samples may be used in a portfolio to show student progress.

Writing Trait: Ideas

On My Walk

When Matt goes out to play in his new neighborhood, all he sees is a boring, empty lot. But with a stick, a little imagination and a few new friends, Mattland is born. In this lesson, students use the Show, Don’t Tell writing strategy to add details. At the kindergarten level, this can be done orally and by encouraging students to add details to their pictures. Writing Trait: Ideas     


Mattland Lesson

Father and son watch machines at work while a new school is built. Getting young students to add details to their written work is the focus of this lesson.

Writing Trait: Ideas

Building With Dad

From the first line of text, you just know this book is loaded with voice! Sophie Peterman has a lot to say about baby brothers. Will her opinion change as she gets to know the newest member of the family? In this lesson, students learn about voice by listening to a book that’s loaded with it! As differnet books are read aloud to kindergarten children, have them assess each one for levels of voice. Writing Trait: Voice


Sophie Peterman Lesson

Sophie Peterman Voice Rubric

This is a wordless picture book with hilarious photos of food. Use the photos as a means to gather details in a kid-friendly way. Use the Show, Don’t Tell strategy to describe emotions. In this example “mad” is analyzed.

Writing Trait: Ideas


Show Don’t Tell BLM

Food Play Images

Mad Dad