Six Traits of Writing Mini Lessons | Informational Writing | Grades K–5

Looking for ready-to-teach informational writing lessons that help students become stronger writers? This resource includes 18 differentiated Six Traits of Writing mini lessons designed to teach informational writing through engaging mentor texts, explicit instruction, and teacher-led mini lessons.

Perfect for grades K–5, these 10–15 minute writing lessons teach the Six Traits of Writing: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Sentence Fluency, Word Choice, and Conventions, using mentor texts and instructional strategies that help students write organized, informative, and engaging informational pieces.

These lesson plans were developed to support teachers in teaching the Six Traits using mentor texts and lesson ideas inspired by The Writing Thief by Ruth Culham, a trait-based approach to teaching and assessing writing. All ideas and referenced language from The Writing Thief are clearly cited within the resource.

Why Teachers Love This Resource

✔ 18 differentiated informational writing mini lessons

✔ Ready-to-teach 10–15 minute writing lessons

✔ Grades K–5 differentiation

✔ Six Traits of Writing instruction

✔ Mentor text integration

✔ Teacher scripts included

✔ Active student engagement

✔ Perfect for whole-group instruction, small groups, intervention, and enrichment

Differentiated for Grades K–5

Each of the Six Traits of Writing includes three differentiated mini lessons designed for:

• Grades K–1
• Grades 2–3
• Grades 4–5

Teach the on-grade-level lesson during whole-group instruction, use the above-grade-level lesson to enrich or accelerate learning, and use the below-grade-level lesson to support struggling readers and writers during small-group instruction.

Each lesson begins with a 10–15 minute teacher-led mini lesson (“I Do”), followed by active student engagement (“You Do”), independent writing, and opportunities for conferring with individual students or small groups.

What’s Included:

Mentor Text List

A complete list of mentor texts (read alouds) needed for every lesson is included. Most books can be borrowed from your school or public library. Some mini lessons require specific passages, which are included in the resource. See the preview for the complete mentor text list.

18 Informational Writing Mini Lessons Ideas

• Grades K–1: Sparking Ideas
• Grades 2–3: Getting Focused
• Grades 4–5: Choosing a Topic

Organization

• Grades K–1: Ending with a Sense of Closure
• Grades 2–3: Creating the Lead
• Grades 4–5: Developing the Body

Voice

• Grades K–1: Taking Risks to Create Voice
• Grades 2–3: Establishing a Tone
• Grades 4–5: Conveying the Purpose

Sentence Fluency

• Grades K–1: Breaking the “Rules” to Create Fluency
• Grades 2–3: Crafting Well-Built Sentences
• Grades 4–5: Varying Sentence Patterns

Word Choice

• Grades K–1: Using Creative Words and Phrases
• Grades 2–3: Using Language Effectively
• Grades 4–5: Using Strong Action Words

Conventions

• Grades K–1: Checking Spelling
• Grades 2–3: Using Commas Correctly
• Grades 4–5: Using Capitalization Correctly

Perfect For:

• Whole Group Instruction
• Writer’s Workshop
• Informational Writing Units
• Elementary Writing Curriculum
• Writing Centers
• Small Group Instruction
• Intervention
• Enrichment
• Writing Conferences
• Mentor Text Lessons
• Grades K–5 Classrooms

This is a digital download (PDF).

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