The students will learn strategies for generating personal narratives, by thinking of a person that matters to them and writing about a small moment connected to the person, writing about an important place that matters to them, or thinking of a strong feeling they’ve experienced and telling about it in detail.

The students will learn techniques for enhancing their level of narrative writing by finding “turning points” in their lives. They will write true stories about the first time or last time that something momentous occurred, or when they realized something important, such as the significance of having a grandparent in their life.

Elaboration and revision will be weaved throughout the writing process as the students add dialogue and show internal thinking to their writing, along with slowing down action by reliving a moment using their imagination and telling it “bit-by-bit”.

The students will learn to write an argument essay, while supporting their claim with facts and evidence.

Some claims include: Travel broadens the mind , kids spend too much time playing video games, there should be less homework, schools should have air conditioning, young soccer players should not head the ball.

The students will use a range of texts, both print and digital, to learn and write about various subcategories of the Westward Expansion that include the Louisiana Purchase, the Pony Express, the Transcontinental Railroad, the California Gold Rush, and the Erie Canal.

Students will discover that research consists of more than just collecting and recording information, but also includes reflecting on any patterns, surprises, or points of contrast they encounter on a topic, which helps “grow their thinking”.

For instance, when gathering facts about the Transcontinental Railroad, a student might investigate further how building the railroad contributed not only to the expansion of the west, but also to the displacement of indigenous people in the 1800s. In essence, students will experience what it’s like to think like a historian by asking questions about how certain changes impact other events.

• See below for complete list of Westward Expansion Links

Students will write about a moment or event that took place in their life that gives a reader a glimpse of who they are as a person. Memoirs often include a learning experience that matters to them and one in which they want to share with others. Instead of being written in chronological order, a memoir can be written with "flashbacks", as the student navigates between an event that took place in the past and how that event impacted his/her current life situation. Sometimes memoirs can include personal goals and any obstacles faced along the way, and how he/she overcomes those difficulties. It might seem like writing a memoir would be a difficult task for a 5th graders, but each year they surprise me with the depth of their writing and willingness to share a significant memory that has impacted their life. - Mrs. Czajka