Writing Unit Bundle: Personal Narrative, Informative, Opinion, & Mystery

I’ve bundled my 4 favorite guided writing units: personal narrative, opinion, informative, and mystery for upper elementary students. If you struggle with teaching writing and engaging your students, especially those reluctant writers, look no more. These units include mini-lessons, peer activities, graphic organizers, posters, student handouts and so much more! Take a peek at each resource description!

INCLUDES 4 BIG WRITING UNITS:

1. Personal Narrative:

Do your students struggle with narrative writing and writing quality pieces in general? From my experience with teaching writing and transforming students into writers, I always teach students how to write a personal narrative first. This gives students the opportunity to go through the entire writing process while writing about a topic that they know a lot about, whether it be about a special person, place, thing, or event. This writing unit guides students through the personal narrative writing process by giving example slides for each part and then a slide for students to try what was modeled. Kind of like an “I do” example and then a “You do” your turn. This is a great writing assignment for remote/distance learning. This unit is entirely in google slides. Just make a copy and share it with your students. In the notes section of each slide, there are directions as needed. On the “Your Turn” slides, students just need to add text in the text boxes that are already there. Confer with your students by sharing it with one another to view, edit, and comment. Students can confer with each other and engage in peer activities when they share their work with peers in just the same way. By the end of this unit, your students will have gone through the entire process and will have drafted and published a personal narrative.

What’s included:

•What is a Personal Narrative?

•Seed vs Watermelon

•Seed vs Watermelon Topic example

•Write About What Matters To You example

•Write About What Matters To You graphic organizer (your turn)

•Seed or Watermelon? Topics

•Seed or Watermelon? Topics (your turn)

•Focus On The Sees & Zoom In example

•Focus On The Seeds & Zoom In graphic organizer (your turn)

•Personal Narrative Planner example

•Personal Narrative Planner graphic organizer (your turn)

•Zoom in on Sensory Details example

•Zoom in On Sensory Details graphic organizer (your turn)

•Be a Storyteller Thoughts and feelings example

•Be a Storyteller graphic organizer (your turn)

•Be a Storyteller Dialogue example

•Be a Storyteller Dialogue graphic organizer (your turn)

•Dialogue Tags reference slide

•Good Stories Begin With a Strong Lead example

•Good Stories Begin With a Strong Lead graphic organizer –draft 2 leads (your turn)

•Zoom in On Beginning Details example

•Zoom in On Beginning Details graphic organizer (your turn)

•Zoom in On Middle Details example

•Zoom in On Middle Details graphic organizer (your turn)

•Everyone Loves a Good Ending- thought, feeling, or lesson example

•Zoom in On End Details example

•Zoom in On End Details graphic organizer- draft 2 endings (your turn)

•Zoom In On End Details graphic organizer (your turn)

•Personal Narrative Draft slides

•Title Tips reference slide and checklist

•Title Time activity (your turn)

•Title Time (your turn)

•Take a Closer Look activity

•Meeting Rider Personal Narrative example

•Take a Closer Look bonus activity

•Personal Narrative Checklist

•Revising Checklist

•Peer Conferring Checklist

•Editing Checklist

•CHIMPS checklist

•Personal Narrative Publishing slides

•Personal Narrative Rubric

*Teacher Guide

2. Opinion Writing Unit

One of my favorite writing units to teach is opinion/persuasive writing. Teaching students how to respectively share and discuss opinions are so important. We love to have friendly debates and discuss hot topics. This writing unit is taco-themed, interactive, and has lots of fun taco puns. I incorporated visual graphic organizers, posters, student handouts, and teacher examples to use for mini-lessons, activities, and peer activities. There are also lots of checklists and a rubric. You can use this resource in Google Slides (digital), print it for in-classroom use, or both! Includes a teacher guide with a suggested timeline, how to use these slides, and ideas for mini-lessons.

Now let’s taco ’bout what’s included (pun intended):

• I Mustache You a Question: What is an Opinion?
• An Opinion Is…
• I Mustache You Another Question: What is Opinion Writing?
• Let’s Taco ‘Bout It: Opinion Writing Is…
• Opinion Writing Is…
• Wat Chu Taco ‘Bout? TACO Planning Strategy
• Let’s Taco ‘Bout Topics
• Let’s Taco ‘Bout Audience
• Let’s Taco ‘Bout Form (Create)
• Let’s Taco ‘Bout Opinion (Purpose)
• Lettuce Brainstorm with TACO (Your Turn)
• Persuade vs Begging
• Lettuce Debate Reminders/Rules
• Debate Templates (3)
• Blank Debate Template (Create Your Own)
• Lettuce Plan with TACO (Example)
• Lettuce Plan with TACO (Your Turn)
• Lettuce Taco ‘Bout Planning (Example Plan)
• Lettuce Brainstorm (Plan)
• Lettuce Make a Taco
• Lettuce Plan (Basic Outline of reasons-Example)
• Lettuce Plan (Basic Outline of reasons- Your Turn)
• Lettuce Plan Examples 1, 2, 3
• Lettuce Plan student slides 1, 2, 3
• Let’s Taco ‘Bout Keywords/Phrases
• Let’s Taco ‘Bout an Introduction (Example)
• Let’s Taco ‘Bout an Introduction (Planning slide)
• Let’s Taco ‘Bout Keywords/Phrases
• Let’s Taco ‘Bout a Conclusion (Example)
• Let’s Taco ‘Bout a Conclusion (Planning slide)
• Lettuce Put it All Together (Taco)
• Activity: Lettuce Take a Closer Look (Example Essay)
• Lettuce Take a Closer Look (Example Essay Answer Key)
• Lettuce Draft- Example Essay
• Activity: Lettuce Take a Closer Look (Example letter and Answer Key)
• Lettuce Draft
• TACO Checklist
• Nacho Average Opinion Checklist
• Nacho Average Revising Checklist
• Nacho Average Peer Conferring Checklist
• Nacho Average Editing Checklist
• Check Out This Six Pack Checklist
• Publishing slides
• Editable Opinion Rubric
• Black and White slides
• Suggested Opinion Mentor Texts
• Teacher Guide

3. Informative Writing Unit:

Informative writing doesn’t have to be boring with just a regurgitation of facts. This informative writing unit is all about the writer. When writers choose topics they are fascinated with and know a lot about, their voice and passion come through, adding interest to the writing while teaching the readers.

This writing unit guides students through the writing process by giving example slides for each part and then a slide for students to try what was modeled. Kind of like an “I do” example and then a “You do” your turn. In the notes section of each slide, there are directions as needed. On the “Your Turn” slides, students just need to add text in the text boxes that are already there. Confer with your students by sharing it with one another to view, edit, and comment. Students can confer with each other and engage in peer activities when they share their work with peers in just the same way.

At the end of this unit, students will have written and published an informative book/presentation about a topic they are fascinated with and are passionate about, with a focus on non-fiction text and graphic features and different text structures (description, compare & contrast, sequencing, problem & solution, and cause and effect).

Here’s what’s included:

FOR THE TEACHER:

•Teacher Guide/Outline

**Includes opportunities for discussion, mini-lessons, conferring, reviewing sample writing, and some extension activities.

•Lesson Plan: Choosing a Topic (Generating Ideas)

•Informative Writing Rubric

FOR THE STUDENT:

• Intro slides: Today and every day, when you are getting ready to write, think about… & Writer’s Write About What They Are Fascinated With
• Graphic Organizer: I am Fascinated With…
• Planning Graphic Organizers: Choosing a Topic
• Planning Graphic Organizer: Brainstorming Your Topic Using the 5W + How Model
• Planning Graphic Organizers: Planning and Organizing Information into each Section/Chapter
• Midpoint Planning Checklist (Conferring)
• Drafting Keeping Text and Graphic Features in Mind: Non-fiction Text & Graphic Features checklist
• Drafting Keeping in Mind Non-Fiction Text Structure: Non-Fiction Text Structure checklist
• Let The Drafting Begin: Drafting slides for each section/chapter
• Headings: Student Headings checklist and example checklist (activity and peer conferring)

Other Checklists:

• Non-Fiction Features Checklist
• Revising checklist
• Peer Conferring Checklist
• Editing Checklist
• Check your CHIMPS checklist

Other non-fiction book slides:

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Final copy slides for each section/chapter
• Blank slide for a photo collage, a full page of text, etc.
• Fun Facts
• Glossary
• Index
• Bibliography
• Informative Writing Rubric

4. Mystery Writing:

Writing a mystery is so fun! This writing unit guides students through the process of writing a mystery by giving example slides for each mini-lesson and then a slide for students to try what was modeled. Kind of like an “I do” example and then a “You do” your turn. This unit is entirely in google slides. Make a master copy for yourself and share a copy or parts of a copy, with your students. On the “Your Turn” slides, students just need to add text in the text boxes that are already there. The text boxes are not visible just in case you want to print this resource. You can confer with your students by sharing it with one another to view, edit and comment. Students can confer with each other and engage in peer activities when they share their work with peers in just the same way.

More options: This resource can also be presented and done as whole group mini-lessons which you can find in the suggested teacher guide. You can also print this resource. There are slides that are good for in-person groups, handouts, and peer conferring activities.

What’s included:

•Teacher guide

•What is a Mystery?

•Elements of a Mystery

•Words to Know

•Choosing a Topic for a Mystery

•Mystery Writing Planner

•Coming up with Clues (in settings)

•Be a Detective (asking good questions)

•Be a Storyteller (dialogue)

•Dialogue Tags handout

•Leads (hooks)

•4 Ways to Build Tension (suspense)

•4 Ways to Create Excitement with Cliffhangers

•Create the Situation (Beginning details)

•Create the Climax (Middle details)

•Case Closed (Ending details)

•Mystery Draft slide

•Title Tips reference slide and checklist

•Title Time activity

•Take a Closer Look activity

•Mystery example

•Take a Closer Look activity slide

•Mystery Checklist

•Revising Checklist

•Peer Conferring Checklist

•Editing Checklist

•CHIMPS checklist

•Mystery Publishing slides

Mystery Writing Rubric (editable)

I hope these writing resources help to transform your students into writers and maybe even get them to actually like writing!

Enjoy from my classroom to yours!

These are digital downloads. You will receive 4 PDFs, one PDF for each resource, each with a link to the resource in Google Slides.

Purchasing this product grants permission for use by one teacher in his or her own classroom. If you intend to share with others, please purchase an additional license for the desired product.