1.Biography Writing Project:
This writing activity is centered on the book Dear Austin Letters from the Underground Railroad. Students will be writing a diary from the perspective of Levi. The diary will be made for them out of construction and computer paper. I will show them my own diary entry from Jack’s perspective in Jack and the Beanstalk to make sure that they understand what I mean by writing from the main character’s point of view. (My diary entry is located behind this sheet)
They will be given these guidelines for their first entry:
Label the first page of your diary “Dear Austin Diary”.
Turn the page and write the date at the top left corner.
Write your first diary entry from Levi’s point of view. Include events from the chapters that you have read so far.
Since Dear Austin is a chapter book, this diary will be written in multiple times. I will use these writings to assess the students’ comprehension of the book and inferring abilities.
Diary Example:
September 21, 2011
Dear diary,
The past few days have been crazy. I had to trade in my favorite cow because he won’t produce milk anymore. My mom wanted me to trade him for money, but I traded him for magic beans instead! Well, I planted those beans and the wildest thing happened: they grew into a huge beanstalk overnight. I am planning on climbing to the top of the beanstalk soon. I will write after to let you know what happens!
-Jack
2. Persuasive Writing Project:
For this writing project, the students will be doing RAFTS. The book that coordinates with this project is The Underground Railroad.
Role: a free slave
Audience: slave
Format: invitation
Topic: the Underground Railroad
Strong Verb: persuade
Before beginning the project, read the book to the students so that they can accurately complete the components of the invitation.
The components include:
Time
Where
Why
Decorate
In the “why” section of the invitation, the students must persuade the slave to escape on the Underground Railroad.
3.Expository Writing Project:
The book used for this writing project is The Underground Railroad. I have chosen to do two different writing projects from this book because it is crucial that the students fully understand the Underground Railroad. Writings are a fun way to ensure that their needed understanding develops.
An acrostic will be used for this writing project. The students must use the word “slave” to form their own acrostic. Each letter’s explanation must be a complete sentence. If differentiation is needed, you may allow a student to just develop a word for each letter’s explanation, or you could give them a word for each letter and let them develop the sentences.
An example of an Underground Railroad acrostic is located below:
Secret codes were hidden in songs.
Laborers were working in the fields picking cotton.
Abraham Lincoln fought to free slaves.
Vermont was a free state.
Escape routes were called the Underground Railroad.
1.Biography Writing Project:
This writing activity is centered on the book Dear Austin Letters from the Underground Railroad. Students will be writing a diary from the perspective of Levi. The diary will be made for them out of construction and computer paper. I will show them my own diary entry from Jack’s perspective in Jack and the Beanstalk to make sure that they understand what I mean by writing from the main character’s point of view. (My diary entry is located behind this sheet)
They will be given these guidelines for their first entry:
Since Dear Austin is a chapter book, this diary will be written in multiple times. I will use these writings to assess the students’ comprehension of the book and inferring abilities.
Diary Example:
September 21, 2011
Dear diary,
The past few days have been crazy. I had to trade in my favorite cow because he won’t produce milk anymore. My mom wanted me to trade him for money, but I traded him for magic beans instead! Well, I planted those beans and the wildest thing happened: they grew into a huge beanstalk overnight. I am planning on climbing to the top of the beanstalk soon. I will write after to let you know what happens!
-Jack
2. Persuasive Writing Project:
For this writing project, the students will be doing RAFTS. The book that coordinates with this project is The Underground Railroad.
Role: a free slave
Audience: slave
Format: invitation
Topic: the Underground Railroad
Strong Verb: persuade
Before beginning the project, read the book to the students so that they can accurately complete the components of the invitation.
The components include:
In the “why” section of the invitation, the students must persuade the slave to escape on the Underground Railroad.
3.Expository Writing Project:
The book used for this writing project is The Underground Railroad. I have chosen to do two different writing projects from this book because it is crucial that the students fully understand the Underground Railroad. Writings are a fun way to ensure that their needed understanding develops.
An acrostic will be used for this writing project. The students must use the word “slave” to form their own acrostic. Each letter’s explanation must be a complete sentence. If differentiation is needed, you may allow a student to just develop a word for each letter’s explanation, or you could give them a word for each letter and let them develop the sentences.
An example of an Underground Railroad acrostic is located below:
Secret codes were hidden in songs.
Laborers were working in the fields picking cotton.
Abraham Lincoln fought to free slaves.
Vermont was a free state.
Escape routes were called the Underground Railroad.