Writing Hooks Posters & Scavenger Hunts

Are your students having trouble with writing strong leads? This resource will help you teach students how to write hooks or leads by immersing them in both fiction/narrative and non-fiction texts from books that they love to read and books that are in the classroom or school library: read alouds, picture books, chapter books, news articles, any books either in print or digital! Texts serve as models for good writing that help students mimic in their own writing. Students participate in a variety of scavenger hunt activities that get students thinking, talking, and writing strong hooks and leads! Scavenger Hunts are a fun and engaging distance learning activity!

This is a digital download (PDF) with a link to this resource in Google Slides. I put this resource in Google Slides because I thought you may want to show or share this with your students as a presentation, assign certain slides to your students to complete, and/or print out the posters & Scavenger Hunts to do live.

This resource includes: Easy prep—just print! Mostly black, white, and gray with just a dash of color.

Includes Types of Narrative hooks (student handout)

Types of Narrative Hooks at a Glance (student handout)

8 Most Common Narrative Hook Posters:

• Action
• Flashback
• Snapshot
• Talking
• Question
• Sound effect
• Introduction
• Personal Experience

Includes Types of Non-fiction/Essay hooks (student handout)

Types of Non-Fiction/Essay Hooks at a Glance (student handout)

8 Most Common Non-fiction/Essay Hook Posters:

• Fun Fact
• Quotation
• Story
• Question
• Description
• Bold Statement
• Opinion
• Summary

Scavenger Hunt Text Activities for Fiction & Non-Fiction-(Brief directions included on each one)

•Identify That Hook

•Write That Hook

•Guess That Hook

•Find That Hook Sticky Note Activity – Includes Sticky Note Template and pages each with all the narrative hooks & non-fiction/essay hooks and 2 pages with a combination of all hooks for both fiction & non-fiction. You can assign different students for finding different types of hooks or just one type of hook. Pair them up or have them work independently. Use the blank sticky note templates for students to jot down if they find another type of hook on their hunt. (How to print on sticky notes tutorial included!)

Stuck on a Hook? Use this debate sheet to think it through. Students can jot down which hooks they’re stuck on and provide support to back up their final decision. It’s okay if not all students agree. A friendly debate is fun and will extend thinking. Remind your students any hook can really be used for both fiction and non-fiction and you may see examples of this while looking through both genres. Challenge them to find a hook that does overlap.

Your Turn: After students have had enough time with finding hooks in texts, now they’ll be ready to write some of their own. Students will use graphic organizers to draft a variety of hooks for their narrative or non-fiction writing and then confer with someone to decide which hook fits best.

I hope this resource helps to transform your students into writers and gets them hooked on writing hooks!

Enjoy from my classroom to yours!

Purchasing this product grants permission for use by one teacher in his or her own classroom. If you intend to share with others, please purchase an additional license for the desired product.