Explaining Writers Workshop

Play-Dough Writing Process
Lesson

  Materials needed:

• A section of Play-Dough for every student
• Pencils
• Post-its
Introduction:
Don’t tell the students yet that they are going to be learning about writing. Give each student a piece of Play-Dough and a post-it note. Pick a category, such as food, school, etc. Tell the students the category and ask them to think of an object that would fit into that category. For example, if the category was food the students could pick an apple, or a piece of pizza. Ask the students to give you a thumbs up when they have their item chosen.
Middle:
After the students have them item chosen, ask them to write down, on the post-it, words to describe the object. They need to write what it looks like, what shape it is, what it has on it, etc. Give them a few minutes to write some descriptions down.
When that is over, allow the students to make their item with their play-do. They can only use that one color (unless you as the teacher have enough for the students to mix colors). Give them enough time to make their object. Remind them to use the descriptions they just made from their post-it note.
When all of the students are done making their Play-Dough object, then pass out to everyone another post-it note. Have the students switch places with someone, leaving their play-dough piece where it is. They are going to evaluate their partner’s item while their partner does the same to them. Tell the students to, on the post-it note, write down two strengths of the item and one way the item could be improved.
When this is done, switch back and allow the students to read what their partner wrote. At this time they will then make any changes to their item that are necessary from what their partner suggested.

Finally, give the students one last chance to make any additions or changes. Tell them to look for small cracks that shouldn’t be there or if they need to create any small lines to do so now. This is their last chance.

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Allow a few students to present their item. Explain what it is and to show it from the document camera.
End:
When all of this is over, explain to the students that all of the ‘steps’ that we just took are the same steps that a writer takes when he/she writes. All of those steps have names. Ask the students if they can remember what the first step was.
1. Choosing their item and writing descriptive words down to get the juices
flowing = brainstorming or prewriting
Explain the meaning and why we prewriting to the students at this time
2. Making their object = drafting
Explain the meaning of drafting and what a writer can and cannot do during this stage
3. Switching with a partner and commenting = Sharing
Explain this as well…
4. Making the changes suggested by partner = revising
Explain this as well…. (writers make choices)
5. Making any last minute changes, looking for ‘cracks’ and drawing any
last minute lines = editing
Explain this too..
6. Showing your item to the class = presenting
Explain..
Basically the last part of this lesson you are connecting each step of what you just did to the writing process. Take what you know about the process and explain it. This is a great way for the students to take part in the process and learn about each piece. Let me know if you have any questions!!





Thank you Adventures of Room 129