Seasons Greetings!A Holiday Writing Activity By Caroline LaMagna

Winter BreakWhat would you like to do during your winter break?Write a paragraph describing what you normally do, or would like to do, while you are on vacation from school in December.

Writing Your ParagraphFirst, organize your thoughtsYou can brainstorm and make a list of ideas that pop into your head about your favorite Thanksgiving memory or try clusteringYou can use the 5 Ws and answer the questions Who?, What?, When?, Where?, and Why? You can use a graphic organizer, like a story map (heres another story map) or a time-order chart

Make You Story Come AliveDescribe what your favorite vacation from school activity is:What do you see, hear, feel, smell, taste?Compare it:What is it like?What is it different from?Tell your story in the correct sequence or time order (the order in which things happen). You may use words like first, then, next, and finally.

ParagraphA paragraph has three parts. The topic sentence states the main idea. The sentences in the body of the paragraph are all connected to the main idea. The closing, or concluding sentence sums up the message in the paragraph for example: Trees may be the most important form of plant life on earth. Trees add beauty to parks and give shelter to animals. Tree roots help store water and keep the soil from washing away in rainstorms. Different types of trees provide wood, paper, food and medicines. One of the most important things a tree does is clean up the air. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. It is oxygen that people need to breathe. People can thank trees for a lot more than shade!

Topic SentenceBodyClosing Sentence

A Word on Time OrderHere is a very brief example of a story about building a tree house told in time order:

First we used a rope to raise the wood up into the tree. Next, our parents helped us make a frame for the floor. We nailed boards to the frame. Then the walls and roof went up. Finally, to celebrate, we had a picnic in our new tree house!

Now Get to Writing!!Have fun and enjoy your break from school!!