In grade 1, the Nonfiction Chapter Books unit includes a couple of sessions on including how-to pages within a longer expository text. Some teachers feel that their student may need a bit more work in transferring what they know about how-to texts across pages to a one-page how-to text. If you feel that your students may need this, you have some options:
For more ideas on teaching a mini-unit, see "Writing How-To Books" in the If . . .Then . . . Curriculum: Assessment-Based Instruction from the Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing.
- In December, spend a week or two on a mini-unit, focusing on one-page how-to texts. Whole class shared topics could include "How To Build A Snowman," "How to Cut A Paper Snowflake," "How to Trap a Gingerbread Baby," etc. It is a great mini-unit for the time of year!
- In January, spend the first week back from school on a how-two mini-unit before beginning Nonfiction Chapter Books.
- In January, begin Nonfiction Chapter Books, extending the sessions on how-to pages as necessary when they come up, either with the whole class or a small group of students.
For more ideas on teaching a mini-unit, see "Writing How-To Books" in the If . . .Then . . . Curriculum: Assessment-Based Instruction from the Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing.