Writing
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Throughout the year...
Students will become better writers by using the five writing structures; Compare and Contrast, Problem & Solution, Chronological-Timeline-Sequential, Descriptive, and Cause and Effect.
Students will also learn to respond to questions from our novels using Textual Evidence.
Students will become stronger writers using the R.A.C.E. strategy (Restate the Question with your Answer (Thesis Statment),Cite Evidence, and Explain how the citation proves your answer while answering writng prompts from passages.
There will be Three Major Writing Pieces this year in Fourth Grade
Natural Disaster Report
Natural Disaster Report
🌪️ Natural Disaster Research Writing Assignment
Directions:
Choose a Natural Disaster you are interested in (for example: hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, wildfires, etc.). You will research and write a five-paragraph essay about your chosen disaster.
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Define your natural disaster (What is it?)
Introduce the three main topics you will write about in your paper.
(Example: causes, effects, and safety precautions)
Paragraph 2: Topic One
Paragraph 2: Topic One
Begin with a topic sentence introducing your first topic.
Write about the research you found for this topic.
End with a closing sentence that wraps up your ideas.
Paragraph 3: Topic Two
Begin with a topic sentence introducing your second topic.
Write about the research you found for this topic.
End with a closing sentence that wraps up your ideas.
Paragraph 4: Topic Three
Paragraph 4: Topic Three
Begin with a topic sentence introducing your third topic.
Write about the research you found for this topic.
End with a closing sentence that wraps up your ideas.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
Begin with a topic sentence that restates your main idea and three topics.
Summarize the key points from your paper.
End with a strong closing sentence that leaves the reader thinking about your natural disaster.
Mystery Narrative
Mystery Narrative
All students will start out their Mystery Narrative with the prompt
We had just moved into a new town, but there was nobody there at all, and all the houses were abandoned! We had nowhere else to go, so my parents decided we should move into the house that looked the safest. When we were bringing all our things into the house, we found the craziest thing inside. Mystery Story Writing Directions
1. Create Your Characters
1. Create Your Characters
Think about who will be in your story.
Protagonist: Your main character who becomes the hero.
Antagonist: A character who works against the protagonist — the villain.
Your characters should act, speak, and make decisions throughout the story.
2. Choose Your Setting
2. Choose Your Setting
Think about where and when your story takes place.
Your setting may change throughout the story. Use imagery and descriptive details to help your reader picture each setting.
3. Develop the Problems
3. Develop the Problems
Your story should have problems that your characters must face.
Ask yourself:
What does my character want or need but can't get?
The problem may change or become more difficult as the story continues.
4. Add at Least 3 Clues
4. Add at Least 3 Clues
Your mystery must include at least 3 realistic clues.
🔎 Clue #1
🔎 Clue #2
🔎 Clue #3
Your clues should give the reader information that helps them make predictions and try to solve the mystery.
5. Solve the Mystery
5. Solve the Mystery
The mystery should be solved in the fifth paragraph.
Before revealing the solution, take your reader through the clues and allow them to make their own predictions.
6. End With a Cliffhanger!
6. End With a Cliffhanger!
Your story should end with a cliffhanger.
Leave your reader thinking:
“WAIT… WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!”
A great cliffhanger makes the reader want to read more!
Before You Turn In Your Story...
Before You Turn In Your Story...
☐ I created a protagonist and antagonist.
☐ I described my setting using imagery.
☐ I included problems for my characters to solve.
☐ I included at least 3 clues.
☐ I solved the mystery in paragraph 5.
☐ I ended my story with a cliffhanger.
☐ I reread my story and checked my spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Survival Narrative
Survival Narrative
Survival Story Writing Directions
Survival Story Writing Directions
Your Mission
Your Mission
Write a 5-paragraph survival narrative about a character who faces a dangerous disaster or becomes lost in the wilderness. Your story should show how the character survives by being determined, clever, and never giving up.
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
Introduce your character and the survival situation.
Be sure to include:
Who is the main character (protagonist)?
Where does the story take place? Describe the setting using vivid imagery.
What disaster or survival situation begins the story?
Hook your reader with an exciting beginning.
Remember: Help your reader picture the setting by using sensory details (what the character sees, hears, smells, feels, or tastes).
Paragraph 2 – The Survival Begins
Paragraph 2 – The Survival Begins
Show the first challenges your character faces.
Include:
The first obstacle the character must overcome.
What the character does to survive.
Dialogue and descriptive details that show how the character is feeling.
Use transition words such as:
First
Soon
After a while
At first
Paragraph 3 – The Biggest Challenges
Paragraph 3 – The Biggest Challenges
This is the most exciting part of your story.
Include:
At least two more obstacles the character faces.
Show how the character uses determination, intelligence, or creativity to survive.
Describe the events using strong action verbs and sensory details.
Include dialogue that helps readers understand the character's emotions.
Use transition words such as:
Next
Meanwhile
Suddenly
Later
Eventually
Paragraph 4 – Beating the Odds
Paragraph 4 – Beating the Odds
Show how your character finally survives.
Include:
The final challenge.
How the character "beats the odds."
Explain exactly what happens to help the character survive.
Continue using descriptive language and dialogue.
Use transition words such as:
Finally
At last
In the end
Afterward
Paragraph 5 – Conclusion
Paragraph 5 – Conclusion
Wrap up your story.
Choose ONE ending technique:
Explain how the character changed because of the experience.
Leave the reader with an important thought or lesson.
Have the character reflect on what they learned.
Your conclusion should clearly connect to everything that happened in the survival story.
Checklist Before You Turn It In
Checklist Before You Turn It In
✅ My story has 5 paragraphs.
✅ My character is in a disaster or "lost in the wilderness" survival situation.
✅ I introduced my character and setting clearly.
✅ I included at least three survival events or obstacles.
✅ My character worked through challenges and survived by being clever and determined.
✅ I used dialogue to show my character's thoughts or feelings.
✅ I used at least three transition words to show the order of events.
✅ I used at least three concrete words or sensory details to help readers picture the story.
✅ My conclusion shows how my character changed, leaves the reader with a thought, or includes the character's personal reflection.
✅ I edited for capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and complete sentences.
Remember
Remember
Great survival stories make readers feel as if they are experiencing every moment alongside the character. Show the danger, the emotions, and the determination that helped your character survive!
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