Last week we finished up our informational writing study. We wrapped it up with a project to create a magazine. Each magazine had to have 3 articles and 3 illustrations. We start the project with looking over and engaging with real magazines. For this project, I love to use Critter Connection Magazines! They are very engaging and the students really enjoy interacting with them. Texas Wildlife Association allows Texas educators to get class sets for FREE!!! The link is here.
Next we brainstorm different places you might find informational writing – In my class we make a large chart.
magazines
newspapers
non-fiction books
newsletters
articles
Reports
Online articles
Students look through a few online “magazines” and go through a few non fiction magazines (Critter Connections or others you have)
Analyze non fiction magazines to figure out what makes it so interesting.
paragraphs are short with text features to go with each one.
super interesting facts
each section had its own heading to show the main idea.
colorful photos and illustration
Below are some online article options if you’d like to go the online research route.
Highlights for kids: Hidden Pictures, Fun Finder, Games and Giggles, Story Soup, and MORE
Smithsonian: Fun on-line Stuff for Kids: Articles and interactive activities
National Geographic Kids: Videos, activities, games, and stories
Owl Kids: Three fun magazines for kids 8 and up: Chirp, Chickadee, and Owl Magazines
Stone Soup: Unique among children’s magazines – it’s the only magazine made up entirely of the creative work of children. Young people ages 8 to 13 contribute their stories, poems, book reviews, and artwork to Stone Soup. Since 1973, Stone Soup has provided inspiration to young writers and artists all over the world.
Ready to move forward on this lesson? Check out my lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Informational Writing Lesson Plan: Create Your Own Magazine!
In this engaging and comprehensive lesson plan, students will dive into the world of informational writing by designing their own magazine. They’ll create three unique articles, three illustrations, and a cover page, while also practicing essential writing skills. Using the RACE strategy, students will write two articles and research a topic of their interest to craft a well-structured 5-paragraph essay.
What’s Included:
Lesson Plan: Step-by-step guide to creating a magazine.
RACE Strategy: A proven method to help students organize their writing for clarity and focus.
Graphic Organizer: A tool to help students plan and structure their writing.
Rubric: Clear criteria for evaluating student work on their articles and magazine.
This lesson is perfect for developing students’ writing abilities, boosting their creativity, and giving them an opportunity to explore topics they are passionate about!
Click here for a slideshow with samples.
