LEARN NC

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

About this resource

Appropriate grades
3–4
Subjects
English language arts (writing), diverse learners (multiple intelligences)
Provider
IRA/NCTE

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In this lesson, students explore descriptive writing by producing original monster trading cards. Students create imaginative names for monsters, while also stressing the use of vivid details in their description of their creations. Trading cards must include active characteristics such as a monster's manner of speech, its weaknesses, how and what it eats, etc. This lesson provides opportunities for peer editing as students work together to revise their writing. Readwritethink provides a template for the trading card and a rubric for peer evaluation.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
      • present information in a sequenced, logical manner.
      • discuss.
      • sustain conversation on a topic.
      • share information and ideas.
      • recount or narrate.
      • answer open-ended questions.
      • report information on a topic.
      • explain own learning.
    • 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 4.08: 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.
  • Goal 5: The learner will apply grammar and language conventions to communicate effectively.
    • Objective 5.06: Proofread own writing for spelling and correct most misspellings independently with reference to resources (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, word walls).
    • Objective 5.07: Edit (with assistance) to use conventions of written language and format.
    • Objective 5.08: Create readable documents with legible handwriting (manuscript and cursive).

Grade 4

  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.03: Consider the ways language and visuals bring characters to life, enhance plot development, and produce a response.
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
      • present information and ideas in a clear, concise manner.
      • discuss.
      • interview.
      • solve problems.
      • make decisions.
    • Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations using visual aids with an awareness of purpose and audience.
    • 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.
  • Goal 5: The learner will apply grammar and language conventions to communicate effectively.
    • Objective 5.06: Proofread and correct most misspellings independently with reference to resources (e.g., dictionaries, thesauri, glossaries, computer spell-checks, and other classroom sources).
    • Objective 5.07: Use established criteria to edit for language conventions and format.
    • Objective 5.09: Create readable documents through legible handwriting and/or word processing.