How-to Books

My class just began working on how-to books today. First, I modeled making an authority list of things I know how to do. Then the kids brainstormed their own ideas with their writing partners. I actually learned a lot about my kids as I listened in on their conversations. I had no idea that one of my students had experience feeding horses and another knows how to snorkel. Interesting stuff!

After the kids had a chance to talk it out with their partner, they went off to write their own authority lists. I used the "Top Ten" list paper from Daily 5 for their authority lists.

We will look at many examples of how-to books and the kids will pick one topic to write about. We haven't gotten there yet, but I wanted to share the how-to book paper that we will be using in case anyone else out their is working on the same things right now!

On the front cover, the students draw  and label pictures of the materials needed to complete there how-to. On the next page, the students draw a sketch of each step of their how-to in the picture box, number the step in the little box, and write a description of their how-to in order. Revisiting transition words is a must-do for this writing project!

Click on the link below to grab this paper:

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How-to Paper