Students will be coming back from Christmas break and you want to be ready for them!  This blog post will give you eight writing ideas to teach throughout the month of January.  I will provide prompts and directions for each of the assignments.  You are more than welcome to use these ideas in your classroom without a purchase.  If  you prefer to simply purchase all the activities already prepared for you at a discounted bundle rate, you can click JANUARY BUNDLE.   Let's start off the New Year with a freebie!!!!

1.  NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS AND GOOD FORTUNE BALLOONS.  FREE!!!



These are so stinkin cute.  Click on the picture below to take you directly to this free product!    There is a bulletin board sign, balloon template, writing template and 28 good fortunes included.  I have students write their New Year's resolutions in their journal.  I then have them pick a good fortune message (already prepared for you) out of a hat and write a prediction in their journal - what their good fortune might mean to them for the new year.  After they revise and edit, they will write their final copies on the writing template provided.  I also decorate these balloons with ribbon for a cute display!  Enjoy this free activity!



2.  PENGUIN NONFICTION WRITING

This cute little fella makes an adorable wall display!  On top of that, students will comprehend more of the content when they write about it!!!!

Teachers:
1.  Take already lined paper and cut out circles for writing.  (5 per student)
2.  Cut the same size circle on plain white paper. (1 per student)
3.  Cut out larger circles from black construction paper. (2 per student)
4.  Have other colored paper available for students to create the hat, arms, eyes, nose, bow tie, and feet.


Student Directions:
1.  Read a nonfiction nonfiction penguin book and/or research penguins on the Internet.
2.  Take notes on the information.
3.  In your own words, write a final copy onto the smaller circles (try to fill up 3 circles).  Use complete sentences and proper capitalization and punctuation.
4.  Illustrate a picture on the plain white paper and write a caption.
5.  On a lined circle, list four new words that you learned from your reading.  Write their definition next to them.
6.  On another lined circle, document the sources used in research.

After students write their paper on the circles and create the penguin, then staple the writing onto the belly of the penguin.  Cute cute cute!

The product in my store includes:
~Student directions for homework or center.
~Templates for all parts of the penguin.
~Graphic organizer to use when taking notes.
~4 different writing templates with places for title, heading, picture, captions, vocabulary
~Bibliography page
~Rubric for grading



3.  THE DAY I WAS A SNOWFLAKE

This is a fun activity to get those creative brains ticking after break!  I love to have students read these out loud to the class when finished!

Supplies Needed:
One white sheet of paper per student to cut out a snowflake.
One lined sheet of paper to write the final copy.

Student Directions:
1.  Write a rough draft in your journal.
2.  Start with falling from the sky.  Tell about where you landed and events of your day.
3.  Provide a beginning, middle and end.
4.  Use complete sentences and descriptive words.
5.  Edit and revise writing.
6.  Write final copy on the snowflake template.

To Make the Snowflake:
1.  Fold paper in half diagonally.
2.  Fold it again diagonally.  You should now have a triangle.
3.  Fold it one more time!
4.  Hold the point in your hand.  Cut along the outside.  Some like to curve it like a a pizza slice.
5.  Keep holding the point and cut out different shapes on the folds.
6.  Open up to see your beautiful snowflake!

The product in my store includes:
~Student directions for centers, homework, or independent writing.
~Directions on how to make a snowflake.
~Final copy writing printable.
~Rubric for grading.



4.  HOW TO BUILD A SNOWMAN WRITING

How to writing is an important skill for students in the elementary grades.  It helps them understand sequencing, steps, and writing nonfiction!  The snowman is as cute as can be and it makes an adorable hall display.

Teachers:
1.  Cut out three different size circles on white construction paper.  (If students need lined paper, glue or staple it to the two large circles.
2.  Provide colored paper for hat, scarf, nose and arms.
3.  Optional:  provide tinsel for the hat.



Students:
1.  Write a step-by-step rough draft of how to build a real snowman.
2.  Number each step.
3.  Be very specific!
4.  Use complete sentences.
5.  Edit and revise.
6.  Copy final steps onto the two larger circles after the snowman is created.

Putting the snowman together:
1.  Glue the three circles together from smallest to largest.
2.  Draw and color eyes, mouth, and buttons.
3.  Create arms, nose, hat, and scarf out of colored paper.
4.  Glue all the part onto the snowman.
5.  Write final copy on the snowman.

The product in my store includes:
~Student directions to set in a center, for homework, or independent work.
~Snowman templates for writing and all other parts of the snowman.
~Rubric for grading.



5.  JANUARY DIAMANTE POEM- FREE!

Teachers:
1.  Show the directions and samples for writing a diamante on a smart board.
2.  Brainstorm January antonyms together!!!  This will help your students start thinking about their own writing!

Students:
Using the example on the printable, create your own diamante related to January!!!

The product in my store includes:
~Teaching anchor chart
~Writing template



6.  MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. NEWSPAPER WRITING

Nonfiction is important for not only reading, but writing!  Students can apply the nonfiction elements and create their own newspaper.

Teachers:
1.  Find informational text or a book on Martin Luther King Jr.
2.  Download and print off a copy of my free Newspaper Article Template.


Students:
1.  Read about Martin Luther King Jr.
2.  Create a newspaper page about events in his life.
     a.  Create a title for the newspaper.  Ex.  Montgomery Times
     b.  Create a date towards the end of his life.
     c.  Create a headline for a specific event and illustrate it with a caption.
     d.  Write an article including details about the heading.
     e.  Repeat c and d for a new event.
3.  Create a timeline of Martin Luther King Jr.  (Label the dates and what happened.)



The product in my store includes:



7.  POWER OF A DREAM LYRIC ANALYSIS AND WRITING ACTIVITY

If you can find a way to squeeze music in at any time,  your students will be so excited!  I love the song, Power of a Dream, by Celine Dion.  It ties well into Martin Luther King Jr. activities!

Teachers:
1.  Download the lyrics-  I use the site AZ Lyrics-  POWER OF A DREAM

2.  Develop questions about the lyrics.  You are welcome to copy the following for classroom use only!
     a.  Explain the meaning behind the title of the song.
     b.  What is the rhyme scheme in stanza 2?
     c.  Choose a line to illustrate.
     d.  What do the following words mean in the song?   fate, embrace
     e.  Make a meaningful text-to-world connection.
     f.  What lesson does the song convey?

3.  Make a cloud pattern for student writing.



Students:
1.  Read and listen to the lyrics.
2.  Analyze the lyrics by answering the questions above.
3.  Reread the line:  "Teaching lessons we must learn."  What lesson do you think we need to learn and why?    Or what is your dream?
4.  Write your final copy on a cloud pattern.

The product in my store includes:

~A copy of the lyrics
~An analysis printable
~A writing template
~Answer Key



Make a bulletin board with the Newspaper Writing and Power of Dream Writing!



8.  SUPER BOWL PERSUASIVE WRITING

Teachers:
1.  Provide writing paper, drawing paper, and construction paper.
2.  Download free How to Teach a Friendly Letter.

Students:
1.  Choose between the following persuasive prompts:
     a.  Convince the NFL to advertise a commercial about a new phone that you invented.
     b.  Persuade the NFL to sell your favorite homemade snacks at the game.
     c.  Convince the NFL to allow you and your friends to perform a song or dance at half time.
     d.  Persuade the fans for the opposing team to root for your team to win!
2.  Write a rough draft.
3.  Edit and revise.
4.  Write a final copy.
5.  Draw football-themed illustrations.
6.  Staple the final copy on construction paper.
7.  Glue illustrations around the paper.

The product in my store includes:



You are welcome to use all of these ideas as a DIY in your classroom.  However, you may not sell or post these ideas as your own.  All of these NO PREP activities can be purchased at a bundled price.


Added to the bundle is a JANUARY WORD LIST perfect for writing assignments!

It is a crazy time of the year.  Kids are excited and so are you!  Christmas is such a wonderful time so embrace it with activities surrounding the season.  Choose ones that are fun, educational, and engaging!  Here are some language arts ideas to help keep your students engaged and learning through the excitement this year!   You are welcome to take these lessons and ideas and make them for your classroom.  Although I have them in my store for an easy no prep purchase, I will try to provide as much information as possible to create your own if you are on a budget.   There are also some freebies below so jump on the sleigh and take a ride through this post!  HO! HO! HO!

CENTER FUN

1.  The Gift of Synonyms Center
Here are some synonyms to use for the holidays!  You can write them on card stock for students to use in your class.  How to use them in a center?  Students shuffle the cards.  Then place concentration with two students.  Turn two cards over to see if they are a synonym match.  If they aren't, turn them back over.  Continue playing until they are all matched.  Then write the answers on a sheet of paper!

$2.00

On card stock, write the following words.  Cut the cards out and have students arrange them in ABC order.  Once placed in order, write the answers on a sheet of paper.

$2.00

WRITING FUN

3.  If I Had a Nose That Glowed
Materials:
Something for the nose:  glitter, tinsel, gumdrop
12 X 18 red or green construction paper
9 X 12 white paper
Paper to write the final copy
Crayons, scissors, and glue

1.  Have students write a letter to Rudolf telling him what they would do if they had a nose that glowed.
2.  Then have them draw their own face (You can use a circle template)
3.  Paste the nose on their drawing.
4.  Optional:  cut out the face.
5.  On colored paper, glue the face on one side and the letter on the other.

$2.00

4.  Decorate Before or After Thanksgiving: Argumentative Writing.

This is a great conversation text!  Go to the article:  Decorating Before Thanksgiving Do or Don't by Anna Claire Vollers.  After reading the text, have students form their own argument.   Write a rough draft, revise, edit, then write a final copy.  I like to have them illustrate their argument too!  If your students have tablets, you can create a barcode for them to scan to get to article.  Also on the site, students can vote for their thoughts!

$1.50

December Word Lists-  FREE HERE ONLY!  Click the December Words picture below.  It is $1.00 in my store or you can get the whole year for $3.


Here is another freebie great for writing-  Templates to make your writing into cute bulletin boards!


RESEARCH FUN

5.  Christmas Around the World Web Quest.  THERE IS A FREE WEB QUEST FOUND HERE!  On that page of my blog, it will also tell you the best countries for students to choose.   I've already done all the research to make sure that all the information I'm asking them to gather is found under each of those countries.  You can have students use their own paper instead of the booklet and make your own doll pattern for the doll!    The information they will collect from the web quest is:
1.  Flag
2.  Location of the country
3.  How to say Merry Christmas
4.  3 History Facts
5.  Environment/Climate
6.  3 Holiday Traditions
7.  Recipe

Then while students are presenting, I like the students to take notes on other traditions!

$4.00

PARTS OF SPEECH FUN

6.  Parts of Speech at the Beach
I don't know about your students, but my little cherubs love to color!  I created one for nouns, one for verbs, and one for all parts of speech.  If you are crafty with the computer, you will insert a holiday graphic into a Powerpoint.  Then you insert the text for each little section.  I created words related to the holidays and the beach.  Here are some examples of parts of speech to use for holidays:

Rudolph's Red-Nosed Nouns:
Proper Nouns- Santa, Rudolf, Christmas, North Pole
Singular Common Nouns- wreath, gift, tree, ornament, elf, bell, toy
Plural Common Nouns- toys, noses, children
Singular Possessive Nouns- wave's, sun's, star's, decoration's, wreath's, angel's, snowman's
Plural Possessive Nouns- umbrellas', beaches'


Making A List of Verbs:
Present-Tense Verbs-  reaches, hope, wishes, raises, hear, buy, toss, give
Past-Tense Verbs- planned, flew, swam, sipped, tried, sang, wrapped, checked
Future-Tense Verbs- will wave, will pack, will smile
Linking Verbs- was is, am are, were


Santa's Parts of Speech at the Beach- All 8 parts of speech
Singular Nouns- seashell, towel, umbrella,
Plural Nouns- waves, beaches
Pronouns- they, she, him
Action Verbs- buried, surfing, standing, hurries, crashes
Linking Verbs- were, is are, was, am
Adjectives- happy, sunny, twelve, sandy
Adverb- quickly, today
Articles- the, a ,an
Conjunctions- but, or, and
Prepositions- under, after, over, until
Interjections- Help!, Ouch!

$2.50

CRITICAL THINKING FUN

7.  Notice, Think and Wonder
This activity can be used with any picture.  This one is free in my store!  It is a great way to encourage a critical thinking conversation.  It works well on the smart board for whole group discussion or printed off for group discussion.  You will be amazed at how much students will notice, think, and wonder about one illustration!
Students should:
1.  What do you notice about the illustration?
2  Think deeper about the illustration.
3.  What do you wonder?

FREE

READING FUN

8.  Legend Study
This is a great time of year to study legends!  My favorite legend at this time of year is Legend of the Poinsettia.  I like to have students make a poinsettia as a craft to go along with the text.  You can google how to do this!
A list of other holiday legends:
Legend of St. Nicholas
Legend of the Candy Cane
Legend of the Christmas Witch
Legend of the Christmas Stocking

I mix in other legends as well!
Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
Legend of Sleepy Hollow
How the Stars Fell from the Sky
Legend of the Bluebonnet
Legend of the Sand Dollar
Fly Eagle Fly
Legend of the Teddy Bear
Legend of Old Bufana
Manu and the Talking Fish
The Origin of Life on Earth
The Silver-Miners
The Harp of Dagda
The Lighthouse on the Lake

How do I set this up for my class?
Monday:  What are legends?  Old stories that are widely believed but cannot be proven to be true.  Choose a legend to read to them and discuss why it is a legend.  In groups, have students read a legend.  Write a summary and make a connection to the story.

Tuesday:  Choose another legend.  Write a summary and find the author's craft or imagery in the story.

Wednesday:  Choose another legend.  Write a summary, then explain a quote from a character that is meaningful to the story.

Thursday:  Choose another legend.  Write a summary, then pick out the different story elements.

Friday:  Make poinsettias!

$2.00

9.  An Outlaw Christmas
Read the article online.  An Outlaw Christmas.  Then discuss the cause and effect strategies (because- why, effect- what happened).  Give students dates from the article and ask them to tell what happened on those dates. You can use the information from the following worksheets.

$2.00

POETRY FUN

10.  Poetry Analysis
Get a copy of Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost.  Read together and in groups have students analyze it.  Here are items to analyze along with the answers!
Narrator:  A stranger going through someone's woods
Sounds:  Sweep of easy wind, sweep of downy flake, harness bells
Rhyme Scheme:  AABA except the last stanza AAAA
Theme:  We all have ups and downs.  Deciding on keeping a promise or peaceful.
Setting:  Dark snowy woods
Tone:  Sad (deep, dark)  Joyful (easy wind, lovely)
Repetition:  And miles to go before I sleep.  To show how far he still has to go or how tired he might be.

Why did they stop between the woods and lake?  Quiet and peaceful.  Can forget his troubles.
What promises are there to keep?  He may have responsibilities or duties that are making him sad or stressed.
How did the horse communicate with the person?  Shake harness bells
What do you think will happen next?

$1.50

11.  Christmas Poetry:  Cinquains
Line 1:  Subject (One word)
Line 2:  Two words to describe the subject
Line 3:  Three action verbs, each ending in -ing
Line 4:  Four to six words to describe or show feelings about the subject
Line 5:  Synonym for the subject (one word)

Example:

$2.50

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE FUN

12.  Figurative Language for the Holidays
Create different examples of figurative language using a holiday theme!  Here are some examples:
Santa's Similes- see below for free worksheet!
Mrs. Claus's Metaphors-  Ex.  Santa's beard is a cotton ball cloud.  Rudolf's nose is a __.  Frosty's spirit is _____.  The elf's ears are ____.  The fireplace was a _____.
Angel's Alliterations-  Ex.  Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer rides rapid roller coasters.  Santa _________, Grinch ___________,  The trees _____________
Prancer's Personification-  Ex. Prancer danced and sang around he other reindeer.  The sleigh _____,  The lights _____,  A toy ________
Holiday Hyperbole-  Ex. The lights were so bright that they lit up the whole world.  The sleigh was so full that _____.  Frosty was so hot that ______.  The angel flew so high that ______.
Onomatopoeia Ornaments-  Ex. I heard Santa's sleigh whiz through the sky.  Did you hear the horse ____ in the stable?   The icicle melted and ____ down to the ground.

$2.50

Santa's Similes
Free worksheet- fill in the rest of the simile for each one!

FREE

Do you need cute Christmas Thank You cards for your students?  These are free!

All of these items are bundled together for a discounted price:

$12.00 BUNDLE PRICE-  $27.50 IF PURCHASED SEPARATELY

If you are looking for ideas to keep your students' attention throughout this time of year, here are some great ideas!


I hope you got some great ideas to use in your classroom this holiday season!  I wish you a very Merry Christmas!!!!!

How do you help embed the content of social studies into the minds of your students?   Would they rather listen to a monotone lecture and take notes about the Northwest Coast or write about raising their own totem pole on the Northwest Coast?  Click on the picture for a full blog of ideas!!!!!  Native American, Colonization, Explorers, Revolutionary War, Going West, and Civil War!!!!

Now that your students have a creative title from writing mini lesson #31- Crafting a Title, the revising stages are finished. It is time to start editing! This mini lesson focuses on CUPS.