In this on-going course, learners will meet once a week, in a writer's workshop series of lessons. Learners will be developing early writing skills with in developing informational writing skills. Learners will engage in activities such as drawing pictures, labeling pictures and using their pictures to create sentences and . Each week, learners will focus on a new writing skill. 

LESSON OUTLINE: At the beginning of each lesson, learners will be introduced to the Focus Animal for this specific lesson. Learners will first collaboratively participate in a KWL chart. 

Each lesson will focus on prewriting skills, such as think - alouds, planning, using graphic organizers and drawing pictures. At the beginning of each lesson, learns will be introduced to two different animals (outlined below). Learners will review some simple facts about animals using pictures through a NEARPOD lesson. Learners will then use a graphic organizer and write down 2-3 facts about each animal. Teacher will model all aspects of writing to support learners. Learners will use an organizer with words focusing on informative sentences. An example of the graphic organizer is attached. Organizers will be updated weekly depending on the focus animal. Learners will be invited to draw a picture of their chosen animal. Teacher will model different parts of the animal to label. Learners will be invited to add color to their picture at the end of class. 

These lessons will include skills taught from the Kindergarten Common Core Standards in Writing, including standards, W.K.1 -focusing on writing informative sentences, 

CCLS: W.K.2- Learning how to write informative sentences.

Here is the course outline for topics covered in the upcoming weeks...

Focus Animals: Endangered Animals 
May 3: Black Footed Ferret 
May 10: Lemur 
May 17: American Alligator 
May 24: Bluefin Tuna
May 31: Brown Hyena

June 7: Grey Wolf
June 14: Indochinese Tiger
June 21: Koala
June 28: No Classes

July 5: Leatherback Turtle
July 12: Mako Shark
July 19: Northern Spotted Owl
July 26: Piping Plover

August 2: Pygmy Hippo
August 9: Snow Leopard
August 16: Sumatran Orangutan
August 23: Sumatran Orangutan
August 30: Tapir

Writing is a very important skill for learners to develop, but it is also important they have time to practice this skill on their own. In this writer's workshop type class, learners will have a mini-lesson at the beginning of class, to actively engage and learn a new skill, or practice an older skill. Learners will actively engage in topics and information about both animals we are focusing on each week. Learners will learn facts about both animals. Learners will use graphic organizer to write down some facts about each animal. 

At the end of the lesson, the teacher will model how to use these facts to write informative sentences focusing on the facts the learners learned during the lesson. Learners will use a graphic organizer provided by the teacher to write down fun facts of the animal they learned during class. Each step of writing will be modeled for students that need support. 

Learners will see skills modeled from the teacher during each lesson. During class, learners will have ample time to practice using this skill on their own. Skills will include, answering a prompt with facts, drawing a picture and dictating what they drew, or using vocabulary to discuss what they can see in a picture. Learners will be provided with support from the teacher, including visuals, word banks and sentence starters. 

At the end of the lesson, learners will be given time to share their writing if they choose to. If their writing is unfinished, they can complete it after class.