Powerful Paragraphs

     Once we mastered sentence writing skills, and focused on paragraph development in "Snowman Draw Game," the students were ready to expand their paragraph writing skills with this fun assignment.  They were to bring a picture from nature to class, and choose one of the following themes:
1. a descriptive paragraph about their picture
2. a short, scientific "report" style paragraph
3. a one-paragraph "story" about their picture

     Students were not allowed to use the same sentence pattern twice!  Some of their choices were:
1. Use two vivid adjectives in the predicate
2. Begin a sentence with "Because"
3. Start a sentence with an attention-grabbing adverb
4. Include a "where" or "when" phrase or clause in the sentence
5. Include a quote
6. Use ? or ! at the end of the sentence
7. Include a strong verb (no boring ones, like "go" or "is"
And more!

     I was so impressed with the beautiful pictures the students chose, and what they did with them for this project.  Enjoy these samples across the grades!

1. Descriptive Paragraph Sample:

Nature Rocks! by Dhruv (6th grade)

     Stumpy, thick, strong brown trunks extend into thin branches with lovely green foliage.  Two rows of these muscular trees line a trail with long, vivid green grass extending high up.  The leaves from the rows of trees join together to form a sort of tunnel.  Obviously, there is some space in the roof of this tunnel, letting in beautiful stunning views of an unusually, extremely bright white sky.  Because of the incredible sunlight, the trees as well as the grass, are illuminated stunningly.  The trail, with some grass in it, leads to an amazing forest.  This is a wonder of nature!

2. A scientific "report" paragraph

The Predator, by AnaRose (5th grade)

     This powerful and fast barn owl is hunting a bird.  Barn owls have the best hearing of the owls, due to the fact that one ear is bigger and lower than the other.  It flies very silently, because the feathers are like knives.  Barn owls, like other owls, eat their food whole.  Because of this, their digestive system extracts the fur and bones.  Later, they throw it up, and this process is called "yawping."  Barn owls are medium sized.  When they hunt, they move their bodies back and push their legs and claws forward.  This helps them slow down when they get the prey.  These sharp claws kill instantly when they catch prey.  Barn owls are truly magnificent creature.  There is so much more to them than their appearance!

3. A one-paragraph "Story" about a picture

An Adventure with a Tiger, by Theo (4th grade)

     One day, I was taking a safari jeep through the dark, wet rainforest.  Because it was wet, my coat was drenched!  We were driving, when all of a sudden, an enormous orange tiger boiled incredulously out of the bushes.  It had bulging muscles and sharp teeth.  Then the tiger changed direction.  It started running towards us.  "RUN!" I yelled.  We started running for our lives!  I thought I was dead meat!