LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

All about our town: Using brochures to teach informational writing

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=856

A lesson plan for grades 3–5 Visual Arts Education and English Language Arts

Learn more

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

Students look at brochures and other informational tools to determine some of the purposes for which people read and write. After students brainstorm places in their town that fit certain categories created by the teacher, they examine sample brochures. Then students compile a list of characteristics found in the brochures. After completing a series of questions about information needed when moving to a new town, students think about which places would be helpful to know about. Using the Internet as a resource, students research a place of interest in their town and write a paragraph that includes important information about the location. When students have completed the planning and research stages of their brochures, the teacher gives a brief lesson on how to take appropriate photographs for informational writing. Students spend the next few weeks taking pictures of places, outside of class, they have selected to include in their brochures. After a paragraph writing activity, students work in their groups to sort through their information and write paragraphs for the assignment. Once students have edited and revised their work, they work with the teacher to select a template for their brochure. When the brochures are complete and have been printed, the students can share them with new students. Readwritethink provides helpful resources for completing this activity, including an editing checklist, a graphic organizer for planning a brochure, and links to helpful websites that will assist in the development of the project. This lesson provides extension opportunities and suggestions for assessment and reflection activities.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, including:
      • fiction (short stories, novels, fantasies, fairy tales, fables).
      • nonfiction (biographies, letters, articles, procedures and instructions, charts, maps).
      • poetry (proverbs, riddles, limericks, simple poems).
      • drama (skits, plays).
    • Objective 2.05: Draw conclusions, make generalizations, and gather support by referencing the text.
  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned and self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.03: Share written and oral products in a variety of ways (e.g., author's chair, book making, publications, discussions, presentations).
    • Objective 4.04: Use planning strategies (with assistance) to generate topics and to organize ideas (e.g., drawing, mapping, discussing, listing).
    • Objective 4.05: Identify (with assistance) the purpose, the audience, and the appropriate form for the oral or written task.
    • Objective 4.06: Compose a draft that conveys major ideas and maintains focus on the topic by using preliminary plans.
    • Objective 4.08: Focus reflection and revision (with assistance) on target elements by:
      • clarifying ideas.
      • adding descriptive words and phrases.
      • sequencing events and ideas.
      • combining short, related sentences.
      • strengthening word choice.
    • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., personal narrative, short report, friendly letter, directions and instructions).
    • Objective 4.10: Explore technology as a tool to create a written product.

Grade 4

  • Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, including:
      • fiction (legends, novels, folklore, science fiction).
      • nonfiction (autobiographies, informational books, diaries, journals).
      • poetry (concrete, haiku).
      • drama (skits, plays).
    • Objective 2.05: Make inferences, draw conclusions, make generalizations, and support by referencing the text.
  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned projects or self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources through the use of technological and informal tools (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.05: Use planning strategies to generate topics and organize ideas (e.g., brainstorming, mapping, webbing, reading, discussion).
    • Objective 4.06: Compose a draft that conveys major ideas and maintains focus on the topic with specific, relevant, supporting details by using preliminary plans.
    • Objective 4.08: Focus revision on a specific element such as:
      • word choice.
      • sequence of events and ideas.
      • transitional words.
      • sentence patterns.
    • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., personal and imaginative narrative, research reports, learning logs, letters of request, letters of complaint).
    • Objective 4.10: Use technology as a tool to gather, organize, and present information.

Grade 5

  • Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, such as:
      • fiction (tall tales, myths).
      • nonfiction (books of true experience, newspaper and magazine articles, schedules).
      • poetry (narrative, lyric, and cinquains).
      • drama (plays and skits).
    • Objective 2.05: Evaluate inferences, conclusions, and generalizations and provide evidence by referencing the text(s).
  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.06: Conduct research (with assistance) from a variety of sources for assigned or self-selected projects (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.05: Use a variety of preliminary strategies to plan and organize the writing and speaking task considering purpose, audience, and timeline.
    • Objective 4.06: Compose a draft that elaborates on major ideas and adheres to the topic by using an appropriate organizational pattern that accomplishes the purpose of the writing task and effectively communicates its content.
    • Objective 4.08: Focus revision on target elements by:
      • improving word choice.
      • rearranging text for clarity.
      • creating simple and/or complex sentences for clarity or impact.
      • developing a lead, characters, or mood.
    • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., clarification, essay, feature story, business letter).

Visual Arts Education (2001)

Grade 3

  • Goal 4: The learner will choose and evaluate a range of subject matter and ideas to communicate intended meaning in artworks.
    • Objective 4.03: Interject personal point of view regarding one's own surroundings.