This Lesson's Title:

Using 90th Street's Advice

four techniques to inspire quality details

This lesson was created by NNWP Teacher Consultant Corbett Harrison. Check out all of Corbett's on-line lessons by clicking here.

The ideal "mentor text" that can be used when teaching this on-line lesson is the picture book Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Roni Schotter. Before writing, students should listen to and discuss the writing style of this book's author.

Click here to view this book at Amazon.com.

If you are a Washoe County teacher, click here to search for this book at the county library.

Three-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

First, writers will search for all four pieces of advice that young author, Eva, receives from her neighbors and then uses in her story found in the book Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street. Next, writers will apply the four pieces of advice as they brainstorm details about a person, place, and thing they have chosen to write about.  Finally, writers will each create a descriptive paragraph that interestingly describes the person, place, and thing they have chosen. Teachers: Click here to see the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait in this writing assignment is idea development; the writer's goal is to create a powerful descriptive paragraph with memorable details.  The support trait in this assignment is word choice; as students attempt to "find the poetry in their pudding," they will be thinking about the power of thoughtful words.