Writing Hooks Posters & Scavenger Hunts | Narrative & Informational Writing

Looking for an engaging way to teach writing hooks and strong leads? This Writing Hooks resource helps students identify, analyze, and write engaging introductions for narrative and nonfiction writing through interactive posters, scavenger hunts, and student writing activities.

Instead of simply telling students how to write a strong beginning, they’ll discover authentic examples by exploring picture books, mentor texts, chapter books, read-alouds, informational texts, and digital texts. Students learn to recognize effective writing hooks and apply those strategies to their own writing.

Perfect for Writing Workshop, Writer’s Workshop, literacy centers, small groups, whole-class instruction, substitute plans, independent practice, and Google Classroom™.

What’s Included:

⭐ Narrative Writing Hooks

Student reference pages:

• Types of Narrative Hooks
• Narrative Hooks at a Glance

8 Narrative Hook Posters

• Action
• Flashback
• Snapshot
• Dialogue (Talking)
• Question
• Sound Effect
• Introduction
• Personal Experience

⭐ Nonfiction Writing Hooks

Student reference pages:

• Types of Nonfiction Hooks
• Nonfiction Hooks at a Glance

8 Nonfiction Hook Posters

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

Interactive Writing Hook Activities

Students actively practice identifying and writing strong introductions with engaging activities including:

✔ Identify That Hook

✔ Write That Hook

✔ Guess That Hook

✔ Find That Hook Sticky Note Activity

✔ Stuck on a Hook? Discussion & Debate Sheet

✔ Graphic Organizers for Drafting Strong Hooks

✔ Peer Conferencing Activities

Print & Digital

This resource includes Google Slides™ for easy digital learning.

Use it to:

• Present lessons during whole-group instruction
• Assign activities in Google Classroom™
• Complete digitally
• Print for hands-on classroom use

Why Teachers Love This Resource

⭐ Uses authentic mentor texts students already know and love

⭐ Encourages critical thinking through interactive scavenger hunts

⭐ Gets students talking about writing before they begin writing

⭐ Easy-prep activities that are ready to print

⭐ Perfect for narrative and nonfiction writing instruction

⭐ Great for upper elementary writing workshop

Skills Students Will Practice

Students will learn to:

• Identify different types of writing hooks
• Analyze effective introductions in mentor texts
• Compare narrative and nonfiction leads
• Write engaging introductions
• Revise weak leads
• Choose the strongest hook for their audience and purpose

Perfect For

• 3rd Grade Writing
• 4th Grade Writing
• 5th Grade Writing
• Narrative Writing
• Opinion Writing
• Informational Writing
• Nonfiction Writing
• Writing Workshop
• Literacy Centers
• Writing Centers
• Writing Mini Lessons
• Mentor Text Lessons
• Test Prep Writing
• Homeschool

From My Classroom to Yours

I created this resource after watching students struggle with one of the hardest parts of writing…getting started. These classroom-tested posters and activities help students recognize what makes a strong introduction so they can confidently write engaging leads in their own narrative and nonfiction pieces.

I hope this resource gets your students HOOKED on writing hooks!

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.

Product created by For The Love of Teachers Shop Copyright © 2020

This is a digital resource (PDF and Google Slides).