All About Our Town: Using Brochures to Teach Informational Writing
Grades 2-4
In this lesson, students learn about why people read and write by looking at brochures and other informational texts available to them. During this project, students practice writing for a specific audience, editing their writing, and working collaboratively (in partners and whole-group) in order to create an informational brochure for new students moving to our town. Often times students and teachers forget that information can be given in ways other than essay-format, and brochures are an easy and fun way of reminding us that they can provide us with valuable information. The brochures will include information such as state landmarks, symbols, and visitor's information. This lesson meets several national and state standards for the English/Language Arts.
This lesson is designed to take eight, forty to sixty minute sessions. This very involved lesson will require students to discuss what is important for new students to know about our community, preview sample informational brochures from visitor's centers or other places, use a camera to take photographs or download photographs from the internet, and then the class will brainstorm together to create one brochure. One of the extensions that the author suggested for this lesson was to have students create their own brochure. If I were doing this in my classroom, I would probably have each student do an independent brochure instead of creating one classroom brochure.
This is a very creative lesson, and all activites involved promote student learning. If I have the opportunity to teach 2-4 grade, I will definitely use this lesson. I have looked at several Read, Write, Think Lessons, and although they may be more work for the teacher (in terms of preparation), they are so beneficial for students. Anytime a lesson can consist of reading, writing, critical thinking, technology, and whatever else you may be be able to throw in there, it is going to be a better lesson than straight reading or writing. There is an abundance of read, write, think lessons on the internet, so we definitely need to use them as a resource!
Lisa Beach