One Week Lesson Plan

1
DAY 1

Lesson Focus (Day 1)

Grade Level
Materials

Introducing Organization
1st Grade
Three Reading passages, Highlighter, Document Camera.

Lesson

I will tell students that after learning about ideas, that we will be learning about ideas and will
organize those ideas. I will tell them that this is what good writers do, so that readers can
understand what the piece is about. Using a reading passage, I will begin to model what
organization looks like. I will model finding the idea/ topic, and then finding the beginning,
middle and end of the story. I will read the passage out loud, think out loud saying, What is
the beginning of the story? I will model using a highlighter, by highlighting the beginning,
middle and end of the passage.
Students will receive a reading passage and will try to find the beginning, middle, and
end.
At their seats using different color highlighters, they will read the story organize the
story with the different color highlighters, just like I modeled.
For those that feel they are not ready, or ELLs- may work with a partner. Early finishers
can organize a harder passage.
I will first read the third passage aloud.
Then I will call on three students to share on what different organization techniques that
they noticed.
They will place their work under the document camera so others can see their work.

Independent Practice

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Reference

CULHAM, R. (2005). 6+1 TRAITS OF WRITING THE COMPLETE GUIDE FOR PRIMARY
GRADES. NEW YORK: SCHOLASTIC, INC.

One Week Lesson Plan

2
DAY 2

Lesson Focus (Day 2)

Grade Level

Organization-Bold Beginnings
1st Grade

Materials

Index cards, document camera, pencils, City Sounds

Lesson

I will first read City Sounds, to model to kids what a bold beginning looks like.
I will tell the students that having a great topic can inspire their beginnings, as they write. My
students and I will create different topics and write them down on flash cards, organize the
cards by difficulty draw and label examples of each topic and place them on the table.
Examples include: lights, camera, action, Single word, Listen Up, and I wonder. I will
show students how to build a sentence using these bold topics. (For example: I wonder how
much ice cream I can eat, without blowing up.) I will Think aloud and keep adding more
interesting sentences.
Students will go to their seats and select a topic and make creative sentences so their
story can have a bold sentence.
Students will raise hand if they are stuck.
I will walk around the room, to help students that get stuck.
ELLs and for those who struggle will receive help from the teacher, given one-on-one
time.
Students will share their bold beginnings with a buddy. The buddy will say if they enjoyed it or
not and good constructive, specific feedback without hurting each others feelings.

Independent Practice

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Reference

CULHAM, R. (2005). 6+1 TRAITS OF WRITING THE COMPLETE GUIDE FOR PRIMARY
GRADES. NEW YORK: SCHOLASTIC, INC.

One Week Lesson Plan

Lesson Focus (Day 3)

Grade Level
Materials
Lesson

Independent Practice

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3
DAY 3
Organization- Mighty Middles
1st Grade
Shopping list, paper, pencils, construction paper, drawing paper, several grocery bags, and
different food items from different categories.
At the carpet I will show students a clothing shopping list. I will tell students that lists are
organized by the importance of the item, or by categories. I will then model why lists are in
categories. This will show students the importance of organization. I will have students work in
teams to complete their own lists.

Spread out the groceries.

Students will be divided into teams.
Teams will have 3 minutes to sort the groceries into piles and categorize them. Each team
will have a chance to use different techniques to categorize the groceries.
I will write down the techniques.
Each team will draw a picture to better visualize their organizational plan.
This game will show students different ways to organize their writing.
Students will share their different categorizing techniques with the class.
CULHAM, R. (2005). 6+1 TRAITS OF WRITING THE COMPLETE GUIDE FOR PRIMARY
GRADES. NEW YORK: SCHOLASTIC, INC.

One Week Lesson Plan

DAY 4
Lesson Focus (Day 4)

Organization- Chronological Order

Grade Level

1st Grade

Materials

Book, The Paperboy, Pencil, Paper,

Lesson

I will introduce chronological order to the students by reading the paperboy. I will ask
questions such as, How did the author start or end that sentence? I will think aloud and have
my students echo read, so they can hear and visualize the organization techniques that they
author used (i.e. First, Next, Last, etc.) Students can call out when called upon so they can put
their input on what endings the author used and why. I will highlight as students say those
specific endings.
Students will read Alphabet City so they can see the organization techniques used.
Students will then write letters using these techniques so they can better organize their
writing.
If some students and ELLs struggle than have them go to the Pre-writing Island and
have them jot down ideas for their letters.
I will come around each island and help students that are stuck.
Students will continue writing and organizing their letters throughout the day fi
necessary.
At the Authors Chair students will read their finished letters out loud to their peers and will
self-assess themselves with the My First Scoring Guide for Organization. Teacher will also
assess students with the more specific organization scoring guide.
CULHAM, R. (2005). 6+1 TRAITS OF WRITING THE COMPLETE GUIDE FOR PRIMARY
GRADES. NEW YORK: SCHOLASTIC, INC.

Independent Practice

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One Week Lesson Plan

5
DAY 5

Lesson Focus (Day 5)

Organization- Graphic Organizers.

Grade Level

1st Grade

Materials

Graphic Organizers-Venn Diagram, Doc. Camera, pencils, paper, construction paper and
crayons/markers.

Lesson

I will introduce graphic organizers and tell students that there are many different kinds of
graphic organizers. But today, we will be learning about Venn Diagrams. I will tell them that
Venn diagrams are for comparing/similarities and contrasting/differences- topics or people.
There are two circles that overlap and the middle circle is what we write the similarities in and
the outer circles are where the differences go. I will model on the Doc. Camera, myself and
another teacher. This will help students visualize how to organize ideas by comparing and
contrasting with the Venn Diagram. I will think aloud, for instance, What is different from
myself and Mr. Stevens? I will write the differences in the outer circles.
Students will individually use the graphic organizer and write about a topic given.
Topic: What I did over the weekend, and what I wish I did over the weekend.
Students will organize their writing by comparing and contrasting.
Students will write their stories by organizing them and including Beginning, middle
and end.
Students will draw and label their writing.
Students will share their writing with their peers and show how they have organized their
writing.

Independent Practice

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Reference

CULHAM, R. (2005). 6+1 TRAITS OF WRITING THE COMPLETE GUIDE FOR PRIMARY
GRADES. NEW YORK: SCHOLASTIC, INC.