Elementary Writing Lesson Plans
Grades: 3rd & 4th
Week 4, Day 1 - Monday, August 1st
Time
Title
Number
of
Minutes
Example/Description
Materials


10:05-10:10
Lesson Opening
5

Materials
 N/A



10:10-10:30
Whole Group
Discussion: What
is a How-to
20
Materials
 Recipes: (Rice
Krispies Treats
and Gourmet
Peanut Butter
and Jelly
Sandwiches)
 Markers
 Chart Paper
 How-to
Characteristics
List








1
Tell campers that children their own age sometimes have important
jobs that help make their community a better place.
Explain that over the past few weeks, the campers were able to read,
discuss, and explore jobs for children.
They have written an acrostic poem, created a resume, and now they
will also write about how to get a job of their dreams.
The focus of this week will be writing a how to essay for how to get
a dream job now!
Today, the campers will think about the most important parts of a
how to essay.
Explain to the campers that during today’s lesson, they will get to
know what a how-to essay is so they will be able to write one for
their dream job.
Today the students will work in groups to think about the important
parts of a how to essay.
Divide the campers into two groups.
Provide one group with the Rice Krispies Recipe and the other
group with the Peanut Butter and Jelly Recipe.
Ask the campers to review the recipes and make a list of what
makes this a how –to.
Each group with record on one paper to share out with the whole
group.
Each group should also choose a few people from their group to
present their ideas to the class.
Allow the campers to work cooperatively to complete the task.
Monitor the campers to make sure they are discussing the

10:10 – 10:30
(Continued)








10:30 – 10:35
Reflection
5

Materials
 N/A
2
characteristics of the how-to.
Ask the campers to choose someone from their group with neat
handwriting to record the ideas for their group.
The group should also choose a few campers to present the ideas to
the class.
Call the all the campers back together and allow each group to share
out.
Create a chart tilted. “How-to Essay Characteristics”
Chart all reasonable responses.
Responses might include:
1. Has an introduction
2. Includes the ingredients that are needed
3. There are step-by-step directions to follow.
4. Transitions are used for some of the steps.
5. Ingredients are listed using bullet points
6. Steps are listed using numbers
7. Has correct spelling, capitalization and punctuation
Explain to the campers that when they write their own how-to, it
will focus on how to get a job for kids.
The characteristics that are identified above will guide them as they
write their own how-to.
Explain to the campers that today they were able to develop
characteristics for a how-to writing.
Tomorrow the campers will begin to write their own how-to essay for
a dream job!
Rice Krispies Treats
Have you ever wanted a midnight snack, but weren’t sure what to eat? Well here is a great treat for anytime of the day.
Ingredients:
 3 Tablespoons of butter
 1 Package of about 40 Marshmallows (10oz)
 6 Cups of rice krispies cereal.
Directions:
1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat.
2. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Add rice krispies cereal.
5. Stir until well coated.
6. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into pan coated with cooking spray.
7. Cool.
8. Cut into 2-inch squares.
Best if served the same day.
3
Gourmet Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich
Could you ever imagine a peanut butter and jelly sandwich being decadent? Try this sandwich and you will.
Ingredients:

2 slices of bread

peanut butter, smooth or crunchy

jelly or jam, your choice of flavor

softened butter
Preparation:
1. Make a peanut butter sandwich using your favorite jelly or jam.
2. Just make sure it isn't too runny.
3. Heat a frying pan on the stove.
4. Melt about one tablespoon of butter in the span.
5. Tilt pan to spread it around.
6. Butter one side of the sandwich.
7. Place buttered side down in the pan.
8. Once side is golden brown, butter other side.
9. Turn sandwich over.
10.Remove from pan, cut diagonally and serve immediately.
4
How-to Characteristics
Use the space below to record the ideas from your group for the characteristics of a how-to writing.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
5
Elementary Writing Lesson Plans
Grades: 3rd & 4th
Week 4, Day 2 - Tuesday, August 2nd
Time
Title
Number
of
Minutes
Example/Description
Materials


10:00-10:05
Lesson Opening
5

Materials
 N/A




10:05-10:20
How-to: Human
Paragraph
15
Materials
 How-to
Characteristics
Chart
 How-to
sentence strips
for Rice
Krispies Treats





6
Tell campers that children their own age sometimes have important
jobs that help make their community a better place.
Explain that over the past few weeks, the campers were able to read,
discuss, and explore jobs for children.
They have written an acrostic poem, created a resume, and now they
will also write about how to get a job of their dreams.
The focus of this week will be writing a how to essay for how to get
a dream job now!
Today, the campers will complete a graphic organizer for how to get
a dream job now!
Explain to the campers that yesterday they were able identify the
characteristics of a how-to essay.
Review the characteristics chart with the campers from the previous
day.
Explain to the campers that one important part of a how-to writing is
putting the steps in an order that make sense so the audience knows
how to complete the task we are explaining.
Distribute copies of the how-to sentence strips for Rice Krispies
Treats to 8 campers.
Allow the campers to line-up in the correct order for the steps of the
Rice Krispies Treats recipe.
Once all 8 campers are in the correct order, encourage the remaining
campers to chorally read the steps.
Explain to the campers what would happen if one of more steps
were out of order or skipped.


10:20 – 10:30
How-to Graphic
Organizer
10
Materials
 How-to Graphic
Organizer



10:30 – 10:35
Reflection
5
Materials
 N/A

7
Distribute copies of the How-to Graphic Organizer.
Ask the campers to think about the job they would like to write about
based on the activities from the previous week like babysitter.
Choose one job for kids and model for campers how to complete each
section of the graphic organizer.
The campers should use the information they learned from the Jobs
for Kids book and the experiences with guest speakers to help them
generate ideas for the graphic organizer.
Explain to the campers that today they were able to think about the
important ace of sequence in a how to writing and they were able to
complete their graphic organizer for the how-to get a dream job.
Tomorrow the campers will have an opportunity to write their how-to
essay using the information from their graphic organizer.
Human Paragraph: Answer Key
1.
First, in a large saucepan melt butter over low heat.
2.
Next, add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
3.
Remove melted marshmallows from heat.
4.
Add rice krispies cereal.
5.
Stir until the rice krispies cereal is well coated with melted
marshmallows.
6.
Then, using a buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture
into a pan coated with cooking spray.
7.
Allow the rice krispies treats to cool down.
8.
Finally, cut the rice krispies treats into 2-inch squares.
8
Student Sentence Strips
Stir until the rice krispies cereal is well coated with melted
marshmallows.
Remove melted marshmallows from heat.
First, in a large saucepan melt butter over low heat.
Then, using a buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into a
pan coated with cooking spray.
Finally, cut the rice krispies treats into 2-inch squares.
Allow the rice krispies treats to cool down.
Add rice krispies cereal.
Next, add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
9
The Human
Paragraph
10
Name ______________________________________________________________________________________
“How-to-Essay”
Graphic Organizer
Directions – Use the graphic organizer below to write your own How-to-Essay.
Topic: ____________________________________________________________
1. What is the title? __________________________________________________
2. Interesting Topic sentence. (Tip: Use a hook to engage the reader by starting with a question.)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Materials (Tip: Use bullets to make a list of materials needed.)
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
11
4. Steps to completing the task. (Tip: Number your steps.)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What will you have as a result? (Conclusion)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
12
Elementary Writing Lesson Plans
Grades: 3rd & 4th
Week 4, Day 3 - Wednesday, August 3rd
Time
Title
Number
of
Minutes
Example/Description
Materials


10:00-10:05
Lesson Opening
5

Materials
 N/A



10:05 – 10:30
How-to Essay
25



Materials
 How-to
Characteristics
Chart
 Lined paper
 Pencils



13
Tell campers that children their own age sometimes have important
jobs that help make their community a better place.
Explain that over the past few weeks, the campers were able to read,
discuss, and explore jobs for children.
They have written an acrostic poem, created a resume, and now they
will also write about how to get a job of their dreams.
The focus of this week will be writing a how to essay for how to get
a dream job now!
Today, the campers will write their essay for how-to get their dream
job.
Briefly review with the campers the graphic organizer that was
completed on the previous day.
Make sure that all the campers have each area completed.
Display the Characterizes of a How-to Essay Chart.
Explain to the campers that today they will write their how-to essay
using the information from the graphic organizer, but they must also
keep in mind the important components like using transitions.
The teacher should use his or her graphic organizer from the
previous day, and model for the campers how to write the essay by
using information from the organizer.
The campers will write their how-to on a separate sheet of lined
paper.
Once the campers have begun to write their how-to essays, circulate
10:30 – 10:35
Reflection
5
the room to work closely with those campers who are having
difficulty.
 If campers finish early, check their work and allow them to partner
share with another camper who is also finished.
 You can also encourage campers that are finished to work with
those who are having difficulty.
 The campers should use the How-to Characteristics Chart as a guide
for peer conferencing or checking their own work.
 Tell the campers that today they were able to complete their how-to
writing for a dream job.
 Tomorrow they will present their writing to the class.
Materials
 N/A
14
Elementary Writing Lesson Plans
Grades: 3rd & 4th
Week 4, Day 4 - Thursday, August 4th
Time
Title
Number
of
Minutes
Example/Description
Materials


10:00-10:05
Lesson Opening
5

Materials
 N/A






10:05-10:30
Pair Conferencing
& Author’s Chair
Sharing
25
Materials
 How-to Essays
 How-to
Checklist
 Author’s Chair
15
Tell campers that children their own age sometimes have important
jobs that help make their community a better place.
Explain that over the past few weeks, the campers were able to read,
discuss, and explore jobs for children.
They have written an acrostic poem, created a resume, and now they
will also write about how to get a job of their dreams.
The focus of this week will be writing a how to essay for how to get
a dream job now!
Today, the campers will share their writing with a partner and in the
author’s chair.
Review the community helper checklist with the campers.
Model for the campers how to check for each indicator.
For example, show the campers how to check to make sure their
work is neat.
If the writing is not neat, model for the campers how you would fix
the handwriting of the sentence to make it more presentable.
Pair Conferencing:
 Ask the students to work with a partner who has the same topic and
provide feedback to one another.
 The students should be listening for the steps needed to take to get
this job.
 The students should use the checklist to give feedback and respond
to their partner’s work.
 Each student should read aloud their concept web, starting with the
topic and then all the steps needed.



The partner can make suggestions for improving or clarifying the
steps.
You may want to list the partner expectations on the board.
Listen to pairs of students and choose a few students to share in the
author’s chair.
Author’s Chair:
 Bring the group together after each student was able to share in the
pair conferencing.
 Select a few students to share their information from the concept
web with the class.
 While students are sharing, take informal notes on their progress.
 Allow the author to choose at least two students to ask questions.
 Questions should be based on today’s objective. (selecting a topic
& developing steps)
 Students can ask questions about the content of the writing and / or
the process.
 For example, the student might say “I wonder why you didn’t use
more transition words? I don’t understand your second step. Can
you use more details to explain step 2?
 The teacher can also ask questions while taking notes.
 You can also use sticky notes to capture the student questions or
your own questions for the student who is sharing.
 The presenting student can collect your sticky notes and place them
in their journals.
 This information will help the student reflect on his or her writing.
 Allow the author to respond to each question and discuss how the
comments might impact his or her work.
10:30 – 10:35

Reflection
5
Materials
 N/A
16
Next week, the campers will begin to write about the job they
selected during today’s lesson.
Name ___________________________________________________
Name ___________________________________________________
How-to Essay
Check List
How-to Essay
Check List
I know my work is good because…










I know my work is good because…






My writing tells someone how to get a dream job
I used my own ideas to write sentences.
My sentence have transitions (first, next, finally)
I included the materials needed for this job.
I have an engaging topic sentence.
My conclusion includes the result of following my
directions.
I ended each sentence with an end mark.
I used my best spelling and grammar.
I wrote complete sentences.
My work is neat.




17
My writing tells someone how to get a dream job
I used my own ideas to write sentences.
My sentence have transitions (first, next, finally)
I included the materials needed for this job.
I have an engaging topic sentence.
My conclusion includes the result of following my
directions.
I ended each sentence with an end mark.
I used my best spelling and grammar.
I wrote complete sentences.
My work is neat.