September’s Bingo Card – Writer’s Notebook Challenges Instructions: After responding to any of the ideas on this page with a decorated ½-page or full-page addition to your writer’s notebook, color in the completed box with a yellow highlighter. When you create any “five-in-a-row” Bingos, a “Four Corners,” or a complete “Blackout” of the whole card, come and show your teacher to receive a special sticker for your work! Create a half- or fullpage tribute to your favorite food. Use words and pictures! Create a three-panel comic strip that shows a student who doesn’t know how to study. Personify an Abstract Noun! Choose a day of the week and turn it into a “person.” “Convince Me!” Prompt Unusual Nightmares Prompt! Attach a new image Describe and illustrate (photo, magazine, etc.) Think of a school rule you don’t like. Write a a bad dream that any to a notebook page. persuasive argument. invertebrate may have. Write about it! What does a cloud Make a list of good Launch a list or a think about? Answer advice for a (real or creative description this question creatively imaginary) younger that captures your idea in your notebook. brother or sister. of a “perfect day.” Celebrate one of your Describe a room in September’s favorite words by your home from a Teacher-Guided Lesson turning it into an unique point of view— ABC’s of Things You acrostic poem. like an insect’s. Might Write This Year What two numbers feud the most? Answer this question creatively in your notebook. You’re on a deserted island. You’re allowed three books and three songs. Which ones? Look at your ABC’s of Things You Might Write This Year list. Begin one in your notebook! Create a three-column (nouns, adjs., verbs) word bank on this topic: School Words Turn a current event into a “recipe” by listing “ingredients” and explaining how to “mix” those ingredients. Create an advertisement to sell one of your favorite articles of clothing. Think of a family expression or inside joke and explain it using details and illustrations. Make a list of six writing topics you think your fellow classmates would like to write to. Write about a true or fictional embarrassing moment. Provide an illustration! Start a page where you can record your favorite clean jokes. Write 2 or 3 down. Record more on this page as the year progresses. “I was totally terrified!” Write a short narrative where this is your first sentence. Illustrate it! Weird e-mail correspondence! If a pet could e-mail its owner, what would the e-mail say? Write it! Worst or best? Put one of these two adjectives in front of the word friend and write about what comes to mind. Remember, you don’t have to use the ideas on this Bingo card; these are simply suggestions if you find yourself needing an idea on a writer’s notebook day in class. By the end of the year, I actually expect you to be discovering your own writing ideas for your notebook most of the time! ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2011. Corbett Harrison Educational Consultants, LLC. All rights reserved. Teachers may reprint freely for classroom use. If sharing this document with adults, this page citation must be left intact. (http://corbettharrison.com) October’s Bingo Card – Writer’s Notebook Challenges Instructions: After responding to any of the ideas on this page with a decorated ½-page or full-page addition to your writer’s notebook, color in the completed box with a yellow highlighter. You need to create any “five-in-a-row,” a “Four Corners,” or a complete “Blackout”of your Bingo card for your out of class assignments for the month. Writings will be graded as homework with a total possible of 200 points. They will be due on the last class day of each month. Be creative, and include small personal drawings in your pages to make your entries more interesting and entertaining. Describe the full moon or the rising sun from a werewolf or vampire’s point of view. Explain/illustrate with Start a page where you can Quote a song, book, or Recording Science Rhymes! record onomatopoetic List 3 science vocab detailed steps how you a movie that offered words. Write 10 or 15 words that you can do something you’re good advice. Justify down. Record more on this pretty good at doing. page throughout the year. why the advice is good. make 5-10 rhymes for. 3-minutes of dialogue! What does a heart Make a “Top 5” List! Personify an Abstract think about? Answer Cite 5 detailed reasons Noun! Choose a school Create a short script where two characters discuss or this question creatively why a classmate should subject and turn it into complain about how their in your notebook. read a book you liked. a “person.” book or novel ended. Justify with multiple Create a half- or fullWhat breakfast cereals October’s reasons why a kid your page tribute to your Teacher-Guided Lesson feud the most? Answer age should or shouldn’t favorite character from “Life is a Cookbook:” this question creatively be allowed to vote. a book you liked. in your notebook. Recipe Writes Worst or best? Put one of Make a list of advice Create an Living the Dream! these superlatives in front for others who may be advertisement to sell If you could design it, of the word week-end and assigned to work with one of your sibling’s (or what would your write about what comes to you in a small group. parents’) possessions. dream car do/look like? mind. Illustrate the writing. Weird e-mail correspondence! “Why did you blush?” Create a comic that List 5-10 things you can What e-mail might a Write a narrative with a shows a student having do inside during a rainy historical figure send to first sentence that the worst school recess instead of going your history teacher? answers that question. picture day ever! outside to catch cold. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2011. Corbett Harrison Educational Consultants, LLC. All rights reserved. Teachers may reprint freely for classroom use. If sharing this document with adults, this page citation must be left intact. (http://corbettharrison.com) Give voice to a pristine place and have the place explain how it feels about humans. Create a three-column (nouns, adjs., verbs) word bank on this topic: Halloween Attach a new image (photo, magazine, etc.) to a notebook page. Write about it! Look at your ABC’s of Things You Might Write This Year list. Begin one you haven’t written to! November’s Bingo Card – Writer’s Notebook Challenges Instructions: After responding to any of the ideas on this page with a decorated ½-page or full-page addition to your writer’s notebook, color in the completed box with a yellow highlighter. When you create any “five-in-a-row” Bingos, a “Four Corners,” or a complete “Blackout” of the whole card, come and show your teacher to receive a special sticker for your work! Unusual Science Cookbook! Write new “recipe” for a scientific concept, like a volcano or black hole. “I was completely calm!” Write a short narrative where this is your first sentence. Illustrate it! What two holidays feud the most? Answer this question creatively in your notebook. What does a turkey think about? Answer this question creatively in your notebook. List 5-10 things that took place this last year that won’t make it into the holiday newsletter. Attach a new image (photo, magazine, etc.) to a notebook page. Write about it! Create a comic strip that shows a student having the worst luck in the lunchroom! Worst or best? Put one of these superlatives in front of the word mentor and write about what comes to mind. Illustrate the writing. Invent a new library that allows you to check out more unique things than books. Look at your ABC’s of Things You Might Write This Year list. Begin one you haven’t written to! Create an advertisement to rent one of your favorite memories to others. Create a three-column (nouns, adjs., verbs) word bank on this topic: Family “What did you lose?” Weird e-mail correspondence! If a lost toy could eWrite a narrative with a mail its owner, what first sentence that answers that question. would it say? Write it! Create a half- or fullJustify it! Explain why page tribute to your magic needs to exist to favorite month/season someone who has a in your notebook. very scientific mind. Illustrate and label the Start a page where you can November’s record oxymorons or Teacher-Guided Lesson parts of a new machine palindromes. Write 2 or 3 you’d invent for doing down. Record more on this 16-Word Poems: So your homework. Much Depends Upon… page throughout the year. In an interesting way, Explain it! An outer In one paragraph, take share the story of how space alien wants to something boring (like you obtained your first know how/why you do mashed potatoes) and or your middle name. something routine. make it exciting! Unusual Nightmares Prompt! Living the Dream! Describe a historical Describe and illustrate If you could design it, ship or vessel from a a bad dream a carnival what would your ship rat’s point of view. ride might have. dream bedroom be? Be historically accurate. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2011. Corbett Harrison Educational Consultants, LLC. All rights reserved. Teachers may reprint freely for classroom use. If sharing this document with adults, this page citation must be left intact. (http://corbettharrison.com) Remember, you don’t have to use the ideas on this Bingo card; these are simply suggestions if you find yourself needing an idea on a writer’s notebook day in class. By the end of the year, I actually expect you to be discovering your own writing ideas for your notebook most of the time! December’s Bingo Card – Writer’s Notebook Challenges Instructions: After responding to any of the ideas on this page with a decorated ½-page or full-page addition to your writer’s notebook, color in the completed box with a yellow highlighter. When you create any “five-in-a-row” Bingos, a “Four Corners,” or a complete “Blackout” of the whole card, come and show your teacher to receive a special sticker for your work! Create a half- or full“When did it click?” Describe an interesting If a predator could epage tribute to your Write a narrative with a historical location from mail its prey, what favorite place/location first sentence that an intelligent ghost’s would the e-mail say? in your notebook. answers that question. point of view. “Convince Me!” Prompt Justify it! Think of 2-3 What does a cell think Make a list of advice Illustrate and label the things the world would Think of food that’s not about? Answer this for someone who may parts of a new machine nutritious. Write an be better without. question creatively in be doing some gift you’d invent for doing Argue for elimination. argument for eating it. your notebook. shopping for you soon. a least favorite chore. Unusual Math Cookbook! Personify an Abstract Attach a new image What might different December’s Write “recipe” for a Noun! Choose a (photo, magazine, etc.) Teacher-Guided Lesson colors smell or taste solving a certain type powerful emotion and to a notebook page. like? Answer this for Personifying Your of math problem. turn it into a “person.” Write about it! eight different colors. Vocabulary Words Living the Dream! Create an ad to sell Look at your ABC’s of List/detail the perfect Create a three-column If you could design it, your favorite color to Things You Might Write “five-stop vacation” (nouns, adjs., verbs) what would your someone who doesn’t This Year list. Begin one you’d take next word bank on this dream backyard be? appreciate that color. you haven’t written to! summer, if possible. topic: Winter Worst or best? Put one of What two veggies feud Recording History Rhymes! Start a page where you can Write a new So Much record favorite quotes said List 3 history vocab the most? Answer this Depends Upon… poem these superlatives in front by book characters. Write of the word sleep-over and words that you can question creatively in that is about a topic 2-3 down now. Record write about what comes to make 5-10 rhymes for. more throughout the year. you studied in history. mind. Illustrate the writing. your notebook. Weird e-mail correspondence! List 5-10 things you could do with a Tupperware container of saved freezer snow. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2011. Corbett Harrison Educational Consultants, LLC. All rights reserved. Teachers may reprint freely for classroom use. If sharing this document with adults, this page citation must be left intact. (http://corbettharrison.com) Remember, you don’t have to use the ideas on this Bingo card; these are simply suggestions if you find yourself needing an idea on a writer’s notebook day in class. By the end of the year, I actually expect you to be discovering your own writing ideas for your notebook most of the time! ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2011. Corbett Harrison Educational Consultants, LLC. All rights reserved. Teachers may reprint freely for classroom use. If sharing this document with adults, this page citation must be left intact. (http://corbettharrison.com) January’s Bingo Card – Writer’s Notebook Challenges Instructions: After responding to any of the ideas on this page with a decorated ½-page or full-page addition to your writer’s notebook, color in the completed box with a yellow highlighter. When you create any “three-in-a-row” Bingos, a “Three Corners,” or a complete “Blackout” of the whole card, come and show your teacher to receive a special sticker for your work! Attach a new image (photo, magazine, etc.) to a notebook page. Write about it! What does water think about? Answer this question creatively in your notebook. Unusual Nightmares Prompt! List 3 or more detailed Describe and illustrate reasons why kids your a bad dream any reptile age should/should not might have. be allowed to drive. Start a page where you can record alliterative phrases you find in readings. Write 2 - 3 down now. Record more throughout the year. Weird e-mail correspondence! If an angry fraction could e-mail a decimal, what would it write? Illustrate and label the Create a three-column parts of a new machine (nouns, adjs., verbs) you’d invent for word bank on this washing your pet. topic: Sports Words Personify an Abstract “Where did you hide?” Noun! Choose a new Write a narrative with a math vocab word and first sentence that turn it into a “person.” answers that question. Find a published poem Look at your ABC’s of Create a half- or fullthat you like, and write Things You Might Write page tribute to your an original, short poem This Year list. Begin one favorite school subject that has the same title. you haven’t written to! in your notebook. Worst or best? Put one of List 5-10 things you What two planets feud these superlatives in front can’t do but your the most? Answer this of the word advice and parents can. Use tone question creatively in write about what comes to to convey feelings. your notebook. mind. Illustrate the writing. January’s Describe your favorite piece of technology Teacher-Guided Lesson from a much older Establishing and Extending Metaphors person’s point of view. “I was horribly hot!” Personify a vocabulary Write a short narrative word recently studied where this is your first in science class. Write sentence. Illustrate it! and illustrate! Living the Dream! Justify it! Create If you could design it, arguments in favor of what would your the age when kids need dream job be? no more babysitters. Describe a child receiving really bad advice from his/her imaginary friend. Write a new So Much Depends Upon… poem that is about a topic you studied in science. Create an advertisement to sell one of the best books you’ve ever read. Remember, you don’t have to use the ideas on this Bingo card; these are simply suggestions if you find yourself needing an idea on a writer’s notebook day in class. By the end of the year, I actually expect you to be discovering your own writing ideas for your notebook most of the time! ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2011. Corbett Harrison Educational Consultants, LLC. All rights reserved. Teachers may reprint freely for classroom use. If sharing this document with adults, this page citation must be left intact. (http://corbettharrison.com) February’s Bingo Card – Writer’s Notebook Challenges Instructions: After responding to any of the ideas on this page with a decorated ½-page or full-page addition to your writer’s notebook, color in the completed box with a yellow highlighter. When you create any “five-in-a-row” Bingos, a “Four Corners,” or a complete “Blackout” of the whole card, come and show your teacher to receive a special sticker for your work! Weird e-mail correspondence! Create an advertisement to sell a If a misused appliance modern scientific idea could e-mail its owner, what would it write? to a primitive culture. Write a new So Much “Why did you lie?” Depends Upon… poem Write a narrative with a that is about a topic first sentence that you studied in math. answers that question. Make a list of advice Create an interesting for someone who may original metaphor for be planning a romantic jealousy. “Extend it” in gesture this month. your notebook. With a pirate’s voice, What two plants feud write step-by-step the most? Answer this directions for finding question creatively in your hidden treasure. your notebook. What does a math Illustrate and label the problem think about? parts of a new machine Answer this creatively you’d invent for in your notebook. babysitting. Justify it! Cite detailed reasons why Feb 14th should/should not be celebrated at school. Living the Dream! If you could design it, what would your dream city be like? Attach a new image (photo, magazine, etc.) to a notebook page. Write about it! Describe the sun or an unseasonal heat wave from a snowman’s point-of-view. “Convince Me!” Prompt February’s Free Write Think of a bad habit someone has. Write a persuasive argument. Personify a new vocab word recently studied in history class. Write and illustrate! Create a three-column (nouns, adjs., verbs) word bank on this topic: Emotion Words List 5-10 things/games you do/play to alleviate boredom when you’re standing in a line. Write new “recipe” for a past event, like a war or movement. Worst or best? Put one of these superlatives in front of the word valentine and write about what comes to mind. Illustrate the writing. List 3 math vocab words that you can make 5-10 rhymes for. Create a half- or fullpage tribute to your favorite family member in your notebook. Personify an Abstract Noun! Choose a natural disaster and turn it into a “person.” Look at your ABC’s of Things You Might Write This Year list. Begin one you haven’t written to! Unusual History Cookbook! Recording Math Rhymes! Remember, you don’t have to use the ideas on this Bingo card; these are simply suggestions if you find yourself needing an idea on a writer’s notebook day in class. By the end of the year, I actually expect you to be discovering your own writing ideas for your notebook most of the time! ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2011. Corbett Harrison Educational Consultants, LLC. All rights reserved. Teachers may reprint freely for classroom use. If sharing this document with adults, this page citation must be left intact. (http://corbettharrison.com) March’s Bingo Card – Writer’s Notebook Challenges Instructions: After responding to any of the ideas on this page with a decorated ½-page or full-page addition to your writer’s notebook, color in the completed box with a yellow highlighter. When you create any “five-in-a-row” Bingos, a “Four Corners,” or a complete “Blackout” of the whole card, come and show your teacher to receive a special sticker for your work! Create an ad to sell an original snack item you invent, like chocolatecovered pizza. Living the Dream! If you could design it, what would your dream vacation be? Personify an Abstract Noun! Turn gossip or prejudice into a person on a notebook page. Look at your ABC’s of Things You Might Write This Year list. Begin one you haven’t written to! Justify it! If science wasn’t an issue, what planet should mankind colonize first? Justify it! Cite detailed reasons why a new technology fad won’t (or shouldn’t) last. Write a new So Much Depends Upon… Poem that is about character from a novel you like. List 5-10 arguments you could make for being allowed to have a new pet or room. Create a three-column (nouns, adjs., verbs) word bank on this topic: Weather Words. Create a half- or fullpage tribute to your favorite game in your writer’s notebook. What does a moth Create a new metaphor Worst or best? Put one of these superlatives in front think about? Answer for recent science of the word mistake and this question creatively content. “Extend it” in write about what comes to in your notebook. your notebook. mind. Illustrate the writing. Weird e-mail correspondence! Attach a new image Describe the dryer or (photo, magazine, etc.) If a crayon could e-mail the washer from one of advice to a child, what to a notebook page. your sock’s point of would the e-mail say? Write about it! view. With a mosquito’s Illustrate and label the March’s parts of the most Teacher-Guided Lesson voice, write step-bystep instructions on perfect backpack a Rhyming Slogans feeding oneself. student could own. Across the Curriculum “Why seek revenge?” What two sports feud Unusual Nightmares Prompt! Write a narrative with a the most? Answer this Describe and illustrate a bad dream a first sentence that question creatively in geometric shape has. answers that question. your notebook. Draw/label a blueprint “I was simply speechless!” Personify a new vocab of your home. Highlight Write a short narrative word recently studied where this is your first 3-4 places where fun in math class. Write things have happened. sentence. Illustrate it! and illustrate! Remember, you don’t have to use the ideas on this Bingo card; these are simply suggestions if you find yourself needing an idea on a writer’s notebook day in class. By the end of the year, I actually expect you to be discovering your own writing ideas for your notebook most of the time! ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2011. Corbett Harrison Educational Consultants, LLC. All rights reserved. Teachers may reprint freely for classroom use. If sharing this document with adults, this page citation must be left intact. (http://corbettharrison.com) April’s Bingo Card – Writer’s Notebook Challenges Instructions: Choose any 4 assignments to write about. You must choose 3 journal entries and 1 list or drawing assignment. All entries must be 1 page in length. Create a three-column Write a new So Much (nouns, adjs., verbs) Depends Upon… poem word bank on this topic: that is about grammar or Springtime. punctuation. Create an interesting With a food critic’s new metaphor for a voice, describe a meal history topic. “Extend it” once eaten in the school in your notebook. cafeteria. Create a list of 5-10 items that—if brought to a sleep-over—would improve the event! What internal organs feud the most? Answer this question creatively in your notebook. April’s Teacher-Guided Lesson Superlative Paragraphs Living the Dream! If money were not an issue, what would your dream weekend be? Attach a new image (photo, magazine, etc.) to a notebook page. Write about it! Look at your ABC’s of Things You Might Write This Year list. Begin one you haven’t written to! Create 5 new rhyming slogans about math or science and illustrate them in your notebook. Describe a vegetable garden from a bee or a brand new seedling’s point of view. “Where is the scar?” Write a narrative with a first sentence that answers that question. Personify a new vocab word recently studied in reading class. Write and illustrate! What does your iPod think about? Answer this question creatively in your notebook. “Convince Me!” Prompt Think of a parental rule you don’t like. Write a persuasive argument. List 5-10 images that Personify an Abstract Create an advertisement you look for when you Noun! Take one of the to sell one of your want to be sure spring six writing traits and chores to a classmate. has finally arrived. turn it into a “person.” Worst or best? Put one of these superlatives in Make a list of advice that Weird e-mail correspondence! front of the word a dog, cat, or other pet If musical instruments invention and write about might give, if it had the could gripe with e-mail, what comes to mind. ability to do so. what would they say? Illustrate the writing. Illustrate and label the parts of a new machine you’d invent to change whole world. + ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2011. Corbett Harrison Educational Consultants, LLC. All rights reserved. Teachers may reprint freely for classroom use. If sharing this document with adults, this page citation must be left intact. (http://corbettharrison.com) Create a half- or fullpage tribute to your favorite restaurant in your writer’s notebook. List 10-20 things that you can physically do now that you won’t be able to in 25 years. May’s Bingo Card – Writer’s Notebook Challenges Instructions: Choose any five writings you like; 4 topics and 1 list or drawing. All of your topics need to be 1 full page in length. What does a genius think about? Answer this question creatively in your notebook. With a P.E. teacher’s voice, explain the perils of watching too much television. Living the Dream! If you could design it, what would your dream computer do? Invent several original characters that have interesting names. Describe & draw them. What two English words feud the most? Answer this creatively in your notebook. Design an original award that you would give to someone you’ve learned to respect. Create an interesting, new metaphor for a math topic. “Extend it” in your notebook. May’s Teacher-Guided If a book’s character eLesson mailed his/her author, Interesting Story what might be said? Titles for Summer Writing Attach a new image Create a three-column What are 5-10 annoying (photo, magazine, etc.) (nouns, adjs., verbs) things you wish the to a notebook page. word bank on this topic: police could give people Write about it! vacation tickets for? Unusual Nightmares Prompt! Create 3 new rhyming Create an ad that tries to slogans for social studies Describe and illustrate a sell a disease you’ve bad dream a book’s and illustrate them in learned about to character might have. your notebook. someone healthy. Weird e-mail correspondence! Look at your ABC’s of Things You Might Write This Year list. Begin one you haven’t written to! Write a speech that would convince a good friend to eat your leastfavorite food. Personify an Abstract Noun! Choose a periodic element and turn it into a “person.” Describe a bad piece of writing from a punctuation mark’s point-of-view. Worst or best? Put one of these superlatives in front of the word game and write about what comes to mind. Illustrate the writing. “What fell & broke?” Write a narrative with a first sentence that answers that question. Personify a new vocab word from the year you just like the sound of. Write and illustrate! Illustrate and label the parts of a new machine you’d invent to annoy one of your teachers. List 5-10 pieces of good advice you’d give to a new student coming to this class next year. “I was probably too honest!” Write a short narrative where this is your first sentence. Remember, you don’t have to use the ideas on this Bingo card; these are simply suggestions if you find yourself needing an idea on a writer’s notebook day in class. By the end of the year, I actually expect you to be discovering your own writing ideas for your notebook most of the time! ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2011. Corbett Harrison Educational Consultants, LLC. All rights reserved. Teachers may reprint freely for classroom use. If sharing this document with adults, this page citation must be left intact. (http://corbettharrison.com)