Grade 2 Home Language Lesson Plan: Creative Writing – “My Best Day Ever”
Materials Needed:
– Whiteboard and markers
– A4 writing paper and pencils
– Crayons and colouring pencils
– “My Best Day Ever” story starter prompts (printed or displayed)
– Access to a classroom computer or tablet for a short video (optional)
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Write a short narrative about a personal experience.
2. Use descriptive language to enhance their writing.
3. Structure their writing using a beginning, middle, and end.
Vocabulary:
1. Narrative: A story that tells about real or imaginary events.
2. Describe: To give details about someone or something.
3. Experience: An event or incident that a person lives through.
4. Stretch: To expand or elaborate on a thought or idea.
5. Beginning: The introduction of a story where it starts.
Previous Learning:
Previously, learners have explored basic sentence structure and shared oral stories about their experiences. They have also started understanding the concept of a beginning, middle, and end in stories.
Anticipated Challenges and Solutions:
– Challenge: Some students may struggle to formulate their ideas into written words.
– Solution: Allow them to verbally share their ideas with a partner before writing or use graphic organisers to plan their thoughts.
Lesson Structure
Beginning Activities (4 minutes):
– Greet learners and introduce the topic of creative writing.
– Share the learning objectives with the class.
– Briefly discuss what makes a day special and invite students to share one word that comes to mind when thinking of their “best day ever.”
Middle Activities (32 minutes):
- Direct Instruction (10 minutes):
- Explain the components of a narrative: introduction (beginning), events (middle), and conclusion (end).
- Introduce the story starter prompts, for example, “Today was the best day ever because…”.
- Showcase an example story as a model.
- Guided Practice (10 minutes):
- Ask students to brainstorm with a partner about their best day. They can discuss what happened during that day and how they felt.
- Encourage them to note key points and use descriptive words.
- Independent Practice (12 minutes):
- Students will write their own “My Best Day Ever” narratives using the prompts provided.
- As they write, circulate the classroom, providing assistance and encouragement.
- Optionally, students can illustrate their stories with drawings to accompany their writing.
End Activities (4 minutes):
– Invite a few students to share their stories with the class.
– Conduct an exit ticket where learners write down one sentence about what they enjoyed most while writing their story.
Assessment and Checks for Understanding:
– Observe students during guided practice for understanding and engagement.
– Evaluate their written narratives for structure, creativity, and use of descriptive language.
– Review exit tickets to gauge overall enjoyment and comprehension.
Differentiation Strategies for Diverse Learners:
– For learners needing support: Provide sentence starters and word banks.
– For advanced learners: Encourage them to include dialogue or more complex vocabulary in their stories.
– Use visual aids and graphic organisers to help map out their stories.
Teaching Notes:
– Encourage a supportive atmosphere where students feel safe to share their writing.
– Remind students that there are no right or wrong stories; the focus is on expressing themselves creatively.
– Ensure that materials, such as writing utensils and visual aids, are accessible for students with disabilities.
– Consider incorporating a short video related to personal experiences if technology allows, to inspire students further.