UNIT 3
How-To Books: Writing to Teach Others

BEND I ♦ Writing How-To Books, Step by Step

Session 1 – Writers Study the Kind of Writing They Plan to Make
Seven Photos of Dog Breeds
Paper Choice: Booklet Page – Box with 4 Lines
Paper Choice: Booklet Page – Box with 7 Lines
Chart: How-To Writing

Session 2 – Writers Use What They Already Know: Touching and Telling the Steps across the Page
FIG. 2–1 Cooper's piece

Session 3 – Writers Become Readers, Asking, "Can I Follow This?"
Chart: How-To Writing

Session 4 – Writers Answer a Partner's Questions
Chart: How-To Writing

Session 5 – Writers Label Their Diagrams to Teach Even More Information
Chart: How-To Writing

Session 7 – Writers Reflect and Set Goals to Create Their Best Information Writing
Information Writing Checklist, Kindergarten and Grade 1
Information Writing Checklist chart (kindergarten)
FIG. 7–2 Luke's piece from kindergarten
FIG. 7–3 Luke's piece from first grade
FIG. 7–4 Scully's piece

BEND II ♦ Using Mentor Texts for Inspiration: Revising Old How-To Books and Writing New Ones

Session 8 – Writers Emulate Features of Informational Writing Using a Mentor Text
Chart: How-To Writing

Session 9 – Writing for Readers: Using the Word You
Chart: How-To Writing

Session 12 – "Balance on One Leg like a Flamingo": Using Comparisons to Give Readers Clear Directions
FIG. 12–1 Brush Your Teeth
FIG. 12–2 Lexi's piece
FIG. 12–3 Chloe's piece

BEND III ♦ Keeping Readers in Mind

Session 15 – Writers Can Write Introductions and Conclusions to Help Their Readers
FIG. 15–2 Vivian writes a conclusion for her book on Beyblades

Session 16 – Writers Use Everything They Know to Make Their How-To Books Easy to Read
FIG. 16–1 The class shared text continues to grow

BEND IV ♦ Giving How-To Books as Gifts

Session 17 – How-To Books Make Wonderful Gifts!
Information Writing Checklist, Kindergarten and Grade 1
Information Writing Checklist chart (first-grade)
Paper Choice: Dedication Page

Session 18 – Preparing for the Publishing Party: Writers Do Their Best Work Now to Share It Later
Illustrated Editing Checklist

Session 19 – Publishing Celebration: Writers Are Teachers!
FIG. 19–1 Introductions and conclusions make the writing complete
FIG. 19–2 Kurt's book