Fall 2017

Picture This! Topic Sentence Activity

Field Study Teacher: Misty Smith School: Florida Mesa Elementary
Grade Level: 5th Number of Students in Class: 22
Unit: Paragraph Writing: Topic Sentence Picture This! Activity Lesson Duration: 50 minutes
Day, Date, and Time of Lesson: September 14, 2017 from 1:00 pm to 1:50 pm

1. Objective(s):
I can write a topic sentence based on two types of topic sentences: Conjunction Statements
(And, But, Or,) and Occasion and Position Statements.

2. Colorado Academic Standards:

Content Area: Reading, Writing, and Communicating

Grade Level Expectations: Fifth Grade
Standard 3: Writing and Composition

3.2: The reclusive writing process creates stronger informational and persuasive texts for a
variety of audience and purposes.

a. Include cause and effect, opinions, and other opposing viewpoints in persuasive writing.

ii. Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational
structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer’s purpose. (CCSS: W.5.1a)

b. Write informative/ explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and
information clearly. (CCSS: W.5.2)

i. Introduce a topic clearly, providing a general observation and focus, and group related
information logically; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when
useful to aiding comprehension. (CCSS:W.5.2a)

3.3. Conventions apply consistently when evaluating written text.

c. Expand, combine, and reduce sentences for meaning, reader/ listener interest, and style.
(CCSS: L.5.1.f) Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization
are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience (CCSS: W.5.4)

Primary Performance Indicators:

RWC 5.A: With some guidelines and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen
writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.

RWC 4.A: Introduce a topic clearly, provide a general observation and focus, and group related

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information logically.

Supporting Performance Indicators

RWC 5.C: Apply conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing.

3. Learning Target(s):
I can identify and explain what topic sentences are. I can write a topic sentence based on two
types of topic sentences: Conjunction Statements (And, But, Or,) and Occasion and Position
Statements.

4. Assessment:
- Students will write one to two topic sentences in their ELA journals for each picture at each
station.
- Students will demonstrate each type of topic sentence (And, But, Or or OP)
- Students will share their topic sentence to the class.

Key Vocabulary:
Main Idea
Topic sentence
Thesis
Big Idea
Main Idea
Occasion and Position Statement
Conjunction Statement

5. Materials:
- Photographs for each of the 7 stations:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XkFq27XLfuWe3zo5JWx-
H8y05XSLWn7LNGgfDial9J8/edit?ts=59b84f61#slide=id.gbbaeaf4b7_0_18 (provided by mentor
teacher)
- ELA Journals (provided by the students)
- Pencils
- Laptops/ Computer

6. Introduction/Anticipatory Set:
Teacher will review with students what topic sentences are by popcorn method. Then teacher
will re-introduce OP Statements and provide examples.

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7. Essential Questions or Big Picture Statement:

What is a topic sentence?

8.
Introduction:
- Teacher will review And, But, Or Statements and OP Statements with students and
provide examples.
- After review, teacher will introduce the Picture This! Activity.

Direct Instruction (Picture This! Activity):

- There will be 7 stations set up throughout the room that will have a laptop or computer
that has a slideshow of photographs.
- Students will be divided up into teams of 3. Counting off to threes up in front of the class
will form these groups.
- Taking their ELA journals and pencils with them, each group will begin station rotations.
- Each group will have about 2- 4 minutes at each station to observe the picture and to
create a topic sentence about the picture, similar to the activity the day before.
- Students are required to write both types of topic sentences (at least 4 And, But Or
statements and 3 OP statements by the end of rotations.)
- After the allotted time, students will rotate to the next station. This continues until group
has returned to their first station.
Closure:
- Students will share one And, But, Or Statement and one OP Statement.
- Teacher will review with students the role that topic sentences play in writing.
- Students will put their ELA journal in the Reading Writing basket for teachers to look at
after school.

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Photograph used for Activity:

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