Welcome to this Lesson:

Counting Up or
Down Stories

using a number-inspired frame to explore original story details

This lesson was created by NNWP Consultant Corbett Harrison. Corbett demonstrates this lesson during his 7 Elements of a Differentiated Writing Lesson Workshop for Teachers.

The mentor text:

In chapter 5 of Wringer, the main character receives "the treatment" on his ninth birthday, offering an interesting structure for writing students can imitate.

Three-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

The writer will brainstorm situations where individuals or people in a group count up or count down out loud together.  Using the ending of chapter 5 of Wringer as a model, the writer will then plan a story where someone (or a group of someones) counts out loud.  In between the counted numbers, the writer will slow down the action and describe in detail what else is going on in the scene.  Teachers: click here to read the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait in this writing assignment is organization; the counted numbers will provide a safe structure for the writer to place his/her in between. The support trait in this assignment is idea development; slowing down the action to capture the details that go on in between split seconds is the whole point of this on-line assignment.