Recrafting to Need - Simile

In the writing sample at the beginning of the ten weeks, the students did not use any language features. This is an identified need, so I am kicking off this three week cycle with a week on using similes in our writing.

We started with vivid vocab as usual, our Word web is filling up quickly and I am noticing the language coming out in their writing and when they are speaking.

We look into what a simile is next, some examples and why we should use it in our writing. All the pink writing is their answers, what they told me about it. They understand similes, but don't use them in their writing. I hope this week will change that.

The next activity is a paired activity where they write similes for soft, hard, rough, fast, slow, heavy etc... things on a little worksheet. This is to promote discussion with each other and help them practice writing similes.

Now, after all the teaching and pair activities, how do I check they've got the learning?

I give them all a picture of a stream in a forest and ask them to silently, and independently write three similes based on the picture. I give them 6 minutes and tell them it is like a test to show me they understand what a simile is. They then share their favourite simile. Here is the page from the modelling book:

As you can see, they all gave me a simile, so I am happy they understand what a simile is. It was a great lesson, all the student were engaged and tomorrow we will look a a sample of writing that has quality similes in it.