This "Your Turn" lesson is modeled after the "Your Turn" lesson in Mentor Texts: Teaching Writing Through Children's Literature, K-6.
Hook:
Read The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli or any book that focuses on telling stories unique to ourselves and our own experiences. Students can identify many different emotions to discuss, as well as writing ideas throughout the story such as family, friends, school, and more.
Purpose:
Sometimes it can be really hard to decide what to write about. All writers struggle with this. It’s important to remember that writing comes from what is in our minds and, more importantly, what is in our hearts. Today we are going to learn how to make a heart map. Heart Maps are a great way for us to remember what is in our minds and what is in our hearts. This will help us decide what to write about. It will also help remind us that we always have something to write about.
Brainstorm:
Think aloud about things that are constantly in your mind and in your heart. Make sure to demonstrate that these are big ideas and not small moments that represent a single event. Allow students to share some things they might add to their heart maps.
Model:
Share your own heart map. Show students how you started with a template and added things one by one. Discuss with students how they can add words and pictures to their heart map to represent their ideas. Choose one idea from your heart map and share a story that might come from it. Write a flash draft on the board.
Shared/Guided Writing:
Ask a couple students to share their ideas. If students mention single moment stories, try to guide them to look at the bigger picture. These questions can help guide student thinking:
What are some things you really like to do?
Who are the important people in your life?
Where are your favorite places?
How do you spend your free time?
Do you have any pets?
Have students share some potential ideas with a partner or group, and encourage students to ask questions to help their partner or group come up with ideas.
Independent Writing:
Give students time to create their own heart maps. Provide students with a template, as well as other needed materials (colored pencils, markers, crayons, etc.). After students complete their heart maps ask them to think of a story that can go with one thing on their heart map. Have them share their story idea with a partner or group. Then have students write a flash draft in their notebooks.
Reflection:
After sharing, ask students how their heart map can help them think of something to write about. These questions can help guide student thinking:
Did listening to others share stories help give your ideas for yours?
What will you write about next?
How can heart maps help you find something to write about?
Here is an example of a Heart Map to use as a model for students.
Resources
Dorfman, L.R. and Cappelli, R. (2017). Mentor Texts: Teaching Writing Through Children’s Literature, K-6. Stenhouse Publishers. Portland, Maine.
Spinelli, E. (2008). The Best Story. Dial Books. New York, New York.
I really like your idea of starting off a writer's notebook with a heart map. I feel that because heart maps are so open ended and customizable for each student, they really allow for students to get excited about writing because of the lack of restrictions.
Hi Callie! I love the idea of heart maps. They can be used with students of all ages, and students get a chance to share about things that they love. This activity can also help come up with many different writing topics.