Differentiated
Instruction Strategies
R.A.F.T.
Come aboard!!
A R.A.F.T.is…
….an engaging strategy that encourages writing across the
curriculum.
….a way to encourage students to ..
 assume a ROLE
 consider their AUDIENCE, while
 examining a TOPIC from their chosen perspective, and
 writing in a particular FORMAT
All of the above can serve as motivators by giving students choice,
appealing to their interests and learning profiles, and adapting
to students readiness levels.
The ROLE of writer, speaker,
artist, historian, reporter,
eyewitness, etc.
RAFT
An AUDIENCE of fellow writers,
students, citizens, characters, etc.
Through a FORMAT that is
written, spoken, drawn, acted, etc.
electron
neutron
proton
A TOPIC related to curriculum
content in greater depth.
RAFTs can…




Be differentiated in a variety of ways: readiness
level, learning profile, and/or student interest.
Be created by students (you can incorporate a blank
row for that option)
Be used as introductory “hooks” into a unit of study.
Have one consistent column while varying the other
columns in the raft grid.
The possibilities are endless. See your handout for
specific examples. An internet search will also
produce a plethora of examples.
Possible Formats to use with RAFTs that address a variety
of learning styles.
Written
Visual
Oral
Kinesthetic
•diary
•cartoon/comic
•song
•model
•crossword
•set
entry
•bulleted list
•obituary
•invitation
•product guide
•game rules
•recipe
•movie critic
•FreqAskQues
•editorial
•character
monologue
•job application
•gossip column
•mag. article
of
•cheer
puzzle
discussion ?s
•mime
•map
•conversation
•reenactment
•scale plan or
•monologue
•wax museum
drawing
•sermon
•demonstration
•graphic org.
•radiocast
•sales pitch with
•concept web
•museum guide
demo elements
•illustration
•commercial
•physical
•print ad
•reader’s theater analogies
•photograph
•taste tests
•interview
•powerpoint
•‘how to’ video
•tasting
•‘how to’ diagram •political speech
•game
•fashion design
•sew, cook, build
•puppet show
•design a ....
•storytell
How can I introduce this
strategy to my students

To get students more actively involved in
understanding a RAFT, you may present
them with a sample RAFT.
Getting Your Ideas Across on a RAFT
(From a Lesson titled: Don't Let Your Car Make a Fuel Out of You!
Energy Education Curriculum Project)

Role of a writer:

You must decide who (or what) you will be. Will you be writing as an old
car? Will you be a piece of pavement? a bicycle? How about a person or
even a bird continually exposed to air pollution from cars?

Audience:

To whom are you writing? Are you writing to a specific person? to
Congress? to a child? to a machine? to a car? to an auto manufacturer?

Format:

What form will your writing take? Will you write a letter or a speech? Will it
be an obituary, a conversation, a memo, a journal, or a diary?

Topic + strong verb:

What is your topic? What strong verb will help you present your topic? For
example, persuade a congressman to vote for more ethanol in gasoline,
demand that more fuel efficient cars are built, plead for a car to be driven
more efficiently.

http://www.uni.edu/earth/EECP/mid/mod3.html

Practically all RAFT assignments are written from a
viewpoint other than that of a student. They are usually
written to an audience other than the teacher. They take
a form other than students would write as a standard
essay. Seldom is the word "write" used as a RAFT verb.
Stronger verbs are used like "plead", "convince",
"clarify", all of which focus the assignment by setting the
tone of the response.
Possible RAFT Roles and/or
Audiences
Car (New, used,
Junker)
Parent
Teen
Car Dealer
Mechanic
Race Car Driver
Gasoline Pump
Steering Wheel
Accelerator Pedal
Police Officer
Car Designer
Tire
Road Kill
Lawyer
Possible Raft Topics

complaint
confession
contest entry
eulogy
farewell
journal
diary
legal brief
memo
news story
obituary
pamphlet
photo essay
recommendation
sermon
review


resume
lecture
telephone dialogue
travelogue
TV script
undercover report
wanted poster
warning
last will & testament
written debate
yearbook
poetry
wedding vows
birth announcement
scolding
Possible RAFT Topics
fuel efficiency
buying a fuel efficient car
driving practices that save fuel
pollution caused by cars
over reliance on driving
aerodynamic vehicle
tire inflation
Sample RAFT Sketch #1:
R = car in a junk yard
A = teen who destroyed the car
F = farewell letter
T = take care of your car (scolding)

Dear Claude,
I've been forced to sit in this junk yard for the past year. Every day I've had
to face the loss of more and more body parts until there is almost nothing
left of me. But tomorrow, my time is up; I'm scheduled to be compacted, so
I have to write this letter now. It is hard for me to say this, but I think you
need to know you are a real jerk!
I gave you the best years of my life, and how did you treat me? You
refused to change my oil on a regular basis. (I get cranky when I have a
dirty crankcase!) You always fed me the cheapest fuel, never letting me
have any fuel containing detergents to help keep my parts clean. You
constantly slammed on the brakes, wearing the treads from my tires. You
never checked my tire pressure. I had to work extra hard to move with
such low pressure in my tires. Do you know how much gas money you
wasted over the years by driving on underinflated tires? You never gave
me a lube job even though I was constantly screaming for one.
I tried so hard to do my best, but you did not lift a finger to help. Oh, no!
Here it comes, the big crunch! I've reached the end of my
road....CRUNCH!

This time, the RAFT sketch
has been left out of the
sample. The challenge for
students will be to read the
RAFT, then determine what
the RAFT sketch should be.
Sample RAFT Sketch #2:
R=
A=
F=
T = (action verb = )

What? You need more gas? I just gave you your gas
allowance! You cannot continue to use your gas
fuelishly. Gas doesn't grow on trees, you know.
Where does all your gas go anyway? If you would
drive 55 miles per hour on the highway instead of
putting the pedal to the metal, you would not be
milking me for every bit of gas I have. If you would
check the air pressure in your tires once a week, you
might be able to put your extra gas in the spare
bank...I mean tank. And another thing, get rid of
those spoilers on the back of your car. What a drag!
You would have plenty of gas and would not cause
me to have a pump attack if the spoilers were gone.
And while we are on the subject, why don't you ride
that nice bike of yours occasionally. You are really
getting lazy! You are making more and more short
trips on my power rather than using your own. Why
not give your car (and the environment) a brake for
awhile? Go park your car in the garage. You're
grounded for two weeks!

Sample RAFT Sketch
#2:
R = Gas Pump
A = Teenager
F = Lecture
T = Fuel Efficiency (Reprimand)
Angles Relationship RAFT
Role
Audience
Format
Topic
One vertical angle
Opposite vertical angle
Poem
It’s like looking in a mirror
Interior (exterior) angle
Alternate interior (exterior)
angle
Invitation to a family
reunion
My separated twin
Acute angle
Missing angle
Wanted poster
Wanted: My complement
An angle less than 180
Supplementary
angle
Persuasive speech
Together, we’re a straight angle
**Angles
Humans
Video
See, we’re everywhere!
** This last entry would take more time than the previous 4 lines, and assesses a little differently. You could offer it as
an option with a later due date, but you would need to specify that they need to explain what the angles are, and anything
specific that you want to know such as what is the angle’s complement or is there a vertical angle that corresponds, etc.
Sample Foreign Language
RAFT assignment: Foods Unit
Role
Cookbook Writer
Audience
Cooks
Format
Recipe
Topic
Instructions on food
preparation
Chef
Customer
Menu
Detailed description
of food preparation
Customer
Restaurant Owner
Complaint
Problem with food or
poor service
Student Overseas
Parents
Letter
Describing a typical
meal you eat with
your guest family
Travel Writer
Reader wanting to
travel
Recommendation
Good things to eat
while in Germany,
what to avoid
Algebra RAFT
Role
Audience
Format
Topic
Coefficient
Variable
Email
We belong together
Scale / Balance
Students
Advice column
Variable
Humans
Monologue
All that I can be
Variable
Algebra students
Instruction manual
How and why to
isolate me
Algebra
Public
Passionate plea
Why you really do
need me!
Keep me in mind
when solving an
equation
Consumer Education Class RAFT
In this RAFT, all students will have a Topic that focus on food safety practices. The Formats are meant to appeal to different
learning styles.
Role
Audience
Format
Topic
Raw chicken
pieces
Chefs in training
Dramatic speech
Why foods like me (poultry) require
special handling and care of utensils
Cartoon
characters
Saturday morning
viewers
Jingle, rap, or
chant
The importance of cleanliness and
washing hands
National
Restaurant
Organization
Restaurant workers
Illustrated Poster
or Flow Diagram
Proper care of knives and cutting boards
Bacteria
Ground beef
Role play or
simulation
Dangers of thawing meat out on a
counter
Power
Company
Consumer
Relations Dept.
Homeowners who
have lost power for
3+ days due to
hurricane or ice
storm
Consumer Alert
messages for
broadcast on TV
What to do with items from the
refrigerator and freezer that have come
to room temperature
Mayonnaise in
egg salad
Picnickers
Urgent Email
Watch out! I’m going to get you!
Business Education RAFT
Students are reviewing elements from “Insert” Drop Down Menu
This RAFT uses the columns of Role and Audience to review basic elements and vocabulary of this unit.
Role
Audience
Format
Topic
Page
number
Writer of a document List of questions
Text Box
TV audience
Late Night’s Top
10 List
What you need to know to use me
right.
Clip art
Student preparing a
PowerPoint
presentation
Song lyrics
”Find me, Place me, Change Me”
Column
break
Page break
Opinion statement
Why I’m more important than you
A Caption
Editor
Set of directions
How to clarify what is in a pie chart or
diagram
Auto Text
feature
Writers of business
letters
Energizer Bunny
commercial
The advantages of using Auto Text
What to consider about how to format
me and where I belong
Possible Role or Audience Ideas for a RAFT
Choose ideas that advance the learning goals.
•Characters
•Public
from a story
job
•Historical
•Musical
figures
instruments
•Vocabulary
•Cartoon
•Types
words
characters
fabric
artists
•Authors
or
inventors
•Business
•Cities,
•Brand
name
•Technical
countries,
continents
object
•Animals,
•Body
systems
•Celebrity
•Instruments
tools
•Minerals
or •Shapes or
colors
or
chemical
elements
•Tradesman
other job
service
or
birds, pets
•Key
terms
•Scientists
or
politicians
•Diseases
•Geographic
formations
of
•Composers
or
or
industry person
terms
or talk
show host
RAFT Planning Sheet
Know: (facts, vocab) {think about the KNOW when planning the
Role or Audience?}
Understand: (statement) {think about the Understand when
writing the topics}
Do: (verb) {This might be the guide for the format?}
Role
Audience
Format
Topic