Story Cutouts

Grade Level: I have used this lesson with both 2nd and 3rd graders.

This lesson is used as a followup after the students have been taught about making sure their writing has a clear beginning, middle and end.

1. Students are asked to go through their writing folders and pick one piece they have written that they feel has an identifiable beginning, middle and end.

2. Students are then instructed to use their scissors to cut their piece into three sections that separate the beginning, middle and end.

3. Students are given a partner and they trade their pieces (not in order). Each partner's job is to read them and put them back in order. If the beginning, middle and end are not well defined, this will be difficult.

The two partners can then discuss ways to improve or strengthen the section each feels is the weakest.