Writing 1 - Desert Survivors

Lesson 1 • Part 4, 5 & Cloze

Topic Sentences & Cloze Practice

Activity Sheet Page 2 & Reader Page 2

Part 4 & 5: Topic Sentence Model:

The topic is the [fox]. A [bat] lives in the desert.

Reader Page 2: 5-Word Cloze Bank:

1. sun 2. bat 3. fox 4. den 5. rat

Read the connected passage and write each word on the numbered blank.

Checklist: Capital letter, spaces, topic word, period! Slide 6 of 31

Lesson 2 • Part 0: Warm-Up (5 Min)

Quick-Write: Visit the Desert?

Activity Sheet: Top of Page 1

Prompt: "Would you like to visit a desert? Why or why not?"

Quick-Write Word Bank:

hot sand animals see fun

Sentence Starter:

"I would like to visit a desert because [reason]."

Write your 1 warm-up sentence on Page 1! Slide 7 of 31

Daily Reading Protocol • Day 2 of 4

Whole-Class Choral Read (1–4)

Survivors Under the Hot Sun

Day 2 Protocol: Whole-Class Choral Reading

All voices read together in unison! Keep a steady pace. Point to each word as we read sections 1–4.

Section 1 & 2:

"The big sun shines all day in the blue sky... The desert bat does not like the hot sun. It flies out at night."

Section 3 & 4:

"The desert fox rests deep inside an underground den... The kangaroo rat eats dry seeds and never drinks water."

Choral reading builds confidence and reading speed! Slide 8 of 31

Lesson 2 • Part 2: Phonics Encoding

4-Sound Consonant Blends

Activity Sheet: Part 2

Tap 4 fingers. Each sound gets its own box:

1. sand (CVCC) /s/ /æ/ /n/ /d/

s

a

n

d

2. trap (CCVC) /t/ /r/ /æ/ /p/

t

r

a

p

3. spot (CCVC) /s/ /p/ /ɒ/ /t/

s

p

o

t

4. nest (CVCC) /n/ /ɛ/ /s/ /t/

n

e

s

t

Notice: 4 sounds = 4 boxes. Write them in Part 2! Slide 9 of 31

Lesson 2 • Part 3 & Part 4

Dictation & Sentence Expansion

Activity Sheet: Part 3 & 4

Part 3 Auditory Dictation (Tap 4 sounds):

Teacher reads: 1. swim | 2. fast | 3. trap

Part 4 Expansion Formula:

The [fox] runs on the [sand].

Combine a topic from Lesson 1 with an action and a blend setting word!

Complete the expansion frames on Page 2! Slide 10 of 31

Lesson 2 • Part 5 & Cloze

Independent Sentence & Cloze Bank

Reader Page 2

Part 5 Independent Sentence:

"The bat rests in a dry nest."

Lesson 2 Cloze Word Bank (5 Blend Words):

fast sand nest spot swim

Open Background Reader Page 2 and write each blend word in the story blanks.

Checklist: Capital letter, spaces, topic, blend word, period! Slide 11 of 31

Lesson 3 • Part 0: Warm-Up (5 Min)

Quick-Write: Meet a Desert Animal?

Activity Sheet: Top of Page 1

Prompt: "Which desert animal would you like to meet? Why?"

Quick-Write Word Bank:

fox bat rat fast cool

Sentence Starter:

"I would like to meet the [animal] because it is [reason]."

Write your 1 warm-up sentence on Page 1! Slide 12 of 31

Daily Reading Protocol • Day 3 of 4

Kids Partner Read (1–4)

Survivors Under the Hot Sun

Day 3 Protocol: Partner Reading Take-Turns

Sit with your reading partner. Point to words together and switch sections:

Partner A Reads:

• Section 1: The Desert Sun
• Section 2: The Desert Bat

Partner B points and listens carefully!

Partner B Reads:

• Section 3: The Desert Fox
• Section 4: The Kangaroo Rat

Partner A points and listens carefully!

Say to your partner: "Good job reading!" Slide 13 of 31

Lesson 3 • Part 2: Phonics Encoding

Consonant Digraphs: 2 Letters = 1 Box

Activity Sheet: Part 2

Digraph Rule: sh, ch, and th make ONE sound together. Put both letters in ONE box!

1. fish /f/ /ɪ/ /ʃ/

f

i

sh

2. shed /ʃ/ /ɛ/ /d/

sh

e

d

3. chin /tʃ/ /ɪ/ /n/

ch

i

n

4. rich /r/ /ɪ/ /tʃ/

r

i

ch

Write the digraph words in Part 2 boxes! Slide 14 of 31

Lesson 3 • Part 3 & Part 4

Dictation & Stating Opinions

Activity Sheet: Part 3 & 4

Part 3 Auditory Dictation (Digraph in 1 Box):

Teacher reads: 1. rich | 2. shed | 3. that

Part 4 Opinion Frame:

"In my opinion, the [bat] is best because it [flies at night]."

Connect your personal opinion to a factual reason using "because"!

Complete the opinion frames on Page 2! Slide 15 of 31

Lesson 3 • Part 5 & Cloze

Independent Opinion & Digraph Cloze

Reader Page 2

Part 5 Independent Opinion & Reason:

"I like the fox because it is fast."

Lesson 3 Cloze Word Bank (5 Digraph Words):

shed that dark rich fish

Open Background Reader Page 2 and fill in the 5 story blanks.

Checklist: Opinion starter, animal, reason with because, period! Slide 16 of 31

Lesson 4 • Part 0: Warm-Up (5 Min)

Quick-Write: Touch a Cactus?

Activity Sheet: Top of Page 1

Prompt: "What happens if you touch a desert cactus?"

Quick-Write Word Bank:

sharp spines hurt poke ouch

Sentence Starter:

"If I touch a cactus, it will [poke / hurt]."

Write your 1 warm-up sentence on Page 1! Slide 17 of 31

Daily Reading Protocol • Day 4 of 4

Kids Read to Self (1–4)

Survivors Under the Hot Sun

Day 4 Protocol: Independent Read to Self

Today, you are ready to read all 4 sections independently! Read silently or in a quiet whisper-voice at your own pace.

Independent Fluency Goals:

• ✓ Point to each word as you read.
• ✓ Check: Did you read the topic words (sun, bat, fox, rat)?
• ✓ Give yourself a thumbs up when you finish all 4 sections!

4 days of repeated reading = reading mastery! Slide 18 of 31

Lesson 4 • Part 2: Phonics Encoding

VCe Words: The Silent 'e' Magic

Activity Sheet: Part 2

Silent 'e' Rule: The 'e' at the end is silent. It jumps over the consonant to make the vowel say its name!

1. safe /s/ /eɪ/ /f/ + silent e

s

a

f

e

2. hole /h/ /oʊ/ /l/ + silent e

h

o

l

e

3. pine /p/ /aɪ/ /n/ + silent e

p

i

n

e

4. cave /k/ /eɪ/ /v/ + silent e

c

a

v

e

Write 3 sounds + silent 'e' in the dotted box! Slide 19 of 31

Lesson 4 • Part 3 & Part 4

Dictation & Plant Opinion Reasons

Activity Sheet: Part 3 & 4

Part 3 Auditory Dictation (VCe Words):

Teacher reads: 1. cave | 2. bite | 3. hole

Part 4 Plant Opinion Frame:

"In my opinion, the [cactus] is best because it [holds water]."

Give factual evidence from the reading to support your plant opinion!

Complete the opinion and reason frames on Page 2! Slide 20 of 31

Lesson 4 • Part 5 & Cloze

Independent Plant Writing & Cloze Bank

Reader Page 2

Part 5 Independent Plant Opinion:

"I think the bush is strong because it has deep roots."

Lesson 4 Cloze Word Bank (5 Plant Words):

cactus water safe hole roots

Open Background Reader Page 2 and write each plant word in the story blanks.

Checklist: Capital letter, plant name, reason with because, period! Slide 21 of 31

Culminating Workshop (45 Minutes) Lesson 5: Showcase

Culminating Showcase:

Desert Writers Showcase

Synthesize everything you have written into a complete 3-to-4 sentence published piece!

Choice: Opinion on Visiting OR Informational Summary Slide 22 of 31

Showcase • Warm-Up (5 Min)

What is the Most Exciting Fact?

Project Sheet: Top of Page 1

Warm-Up Prompt: "What is the most exciting thing you learned about desert survivors?"

Sentence Starter:

"I learned that desert survivors can [action / fact]."

🦊 Foxes run on hot sand

🦇 Bats fly in the cool night

🌵 Cacti hold gallons of water

Write your warm-up sentence on Page 1! Slide 23 of 31

Showcase • Step 1: Choose Your Path

Pick Pathway A or Pathway B

Project Sheet: Step 1

Pathway A

Opinion Piece

Would you like to visit a desert? Write your opinion and give reasons why or why not.

"In my opinion, I would (or would not) like to visit because..."

Pathway B

Informational Piece

What do you know about the desert? Write factual sentences about animals and plants.

"Desert animals and plants have special ways to survive..."

Circle Pathway A or B on your project sheet! Slide 24 of 31

Showcase • Step 2: Vocabulary

Cumulative Word Bank

Project Sheet: Step 2

🐾 Animals & Plants:

fox, bat, rat, owl, cactus, bush, plant

⚡ Actions & Adaptations:

runs, flies, digs, rests, water, spines, roots

🌵 Descriptors:

hot, dry, fast, safe, cool, sharp, deep

🔗 Linking Words:

because, in my opinion, also, but

Circle 3 or 4 target words you will use in your piece! Slide 25 of 31

Showcase • Step 3: Planning

Plan Your 3-Sentence Paragraph

Project Sheet: Step 3

1

1. Main Idea Sentence:

State your opinion (Pathway A) or name your desert topic (Pathway B).

2

2. Reason / Detail 1:

Give a fact using because (animal action or plant water storage).

3

3. Reason / Detail 2 or Concluding Sentence:

Add an extra detail with also or write a strong closing sentence.

Fill out the 3 lines on Step 3 of Page 1! Slide 26 of 31

Showcase • Drafting Session

Paragraph Models: Read & Draft

Project Sheet: Page 2

Model A (Opinion on Visiting):

"In my opinion, I would love to visit the desert. I want to visit because I can see a kit fox run on the sand. Also, I want to see a giant cactus holding water. The desert is a wonderful place."

Model B (Informative Summary):

"Desert survivors have amazing bodies. The bat flies at night when the air is cool. The saguaro cactus has sharp spines to protect its water. These plants and animals survive the heat."

Turn to Page 2, draw your scene, and write your 3–4 sentences! Slide 27 of 31

Showcase • Cloze Reading Practice

Showcase Cloze Reading Word Bank

Showcase Reader: Page 2

5 Target Words for Showcase Cloze:

1. heat 2. fox 3. night 4. cactus 5. survive

Open Showcase Background Reader Page 2. Read the summary story and write each word in the numbered blanks to complete your reading practice.

Cross off each word as you fill in the blank! Slide 28 of 31

Assessment & Self-Check

Author's Success Checklist

Project Sheet: Bottom of Page 2

1

Capital Letters

Start every sentence with a capital letter.

2

Word Bank Words

Use words from your cumulative word bank.

3

Give a Reason

Use "because" to explain your thought.

4

Periods (.)

End every sentence with a period.

Score 4 = Capital + Spaces + Word Bank + Reason + Periods! Slide 29 of 31

Teacher Evaluation Guide

4-Point Scoring Criteria

Teacher Guide: Page 2

4 - Adv

3–4 complete sentences with clear topic/opinion, reasons with "because", accurate word bank usage, and correct mechanics.

3 - Prof

2–3 connected sentences stating an opinion or facts; uses 2–3 bank words; mostly correct capitals and periods.

2 - Dev

1–2 simple sentences or frames completed; relies heavily on word bank copying; inconsistent punctuation.

1 - Beg

Draws picture and writes isolated letters or words without sentence structure.

Teacher records score (1–4) on the scoring strip at the bottom of Page 2! Slide 30 of 31

Unit Celebration Writers Workshop Complete

🎉 🏜️ 📚

Author's Chair Celebration!

Stand up and share your desert writing piece with the class! You can encode words, read informational text, and write academic English sentences.

You are officially published Desert Authors!

Writing 1 • Unit: Desert Survivors Complete Slide 31 of 31

Cloze Reading Self-Check:

Used all 5 words Spelled words correctly Read sentences aloud

Writing 1 • Desert Survivors • Lesson 1 Resource Page 2 of 2

Showcase Summative Rubric (L5) 3 Domains

• • Idea Development: 3–4 coherent sentences with clear topic/opinion and 2+ factual reasons.
• • Cumulative Vocabulary: Correct spelling of 4+ words from CVC, blend, digraph, and VCe banks.
• • Syntax & Connectors: Legible sentence boundaries and accurate causal connector (because).

Actionable Feedback Loop: Score directly on the bottom strip of each student sheet (1–4). Always provide 1 specific praise point and 1 targeted mechanics next step.

Quick Turnaround

Writing 1 • Desert Survivors • Complete Intervention Curriculum & Assessment Framework Page 1 of 1

Instructional Scripts & Assessment

Dictation Script & Rubric

Lesson 2 Guide

Part 3 Auditory Dictation Script (Teacher Read-Aloud)

Read each word three times clearly. Remind students: "Tap 4 fingers. Each box gets one letter. Do not look at your neighbor."

Word 1: swim "Fish swim in the desert pond." Sounds: /s/ /w/ /ɪ/ /m/

Word 2: fast "The desert fox runs fast." Sounds: /f/ /æ/ /s/ /t/

Word 3: trap "Spiders set a sand trap." Sounds: /t/ /r/ /æ/ /p/

Common Blend Misconceptions

• • Dropping Blend Consonants: Writing sad for sand or tap for trap. Emphasize tapping all 4 fingers.
• • Verb Agreement: Newcomers often write The fox run instead of The fox runs. Practice 3rd-person singular 's'.

Cumulative Writing Progress

• • Lesson 1 Writing: 3-4 word naming sentence ("The topic is the fox.").
• • Lesson 2 Writing: 5-6 word descriptive sentence ("The fox runs on the sand.").

Formative Writing Assessment Rubric (ELPA21 Level 1–2)

Writing 1 • Unit: Desert Survivors Page 2 of 2

In rare desert water holes, tiny pupfish (5) together in warm springs and survive!

Cloze Reading Self-Check:

Used all 5 blend words Spelled words correctly Read sentences aloud

Writing 1 • Desert Survivors • Lesson 2 Resource Page 2 of 2

Writing 1 • Unit: Desert Survivors Page 1 of 2

Instructional Scripts & Assessment

Dictation Script & Rubric

Lesson 3 Guide

Part 3 Auditory Dictation Script (Teacher Read-Aloud)

Read each word three times clearly. Remind students: "A digraph has 2 letters that work together to make 1 sound. Put both letters inside the sound box."

Word 1: rich "The cactus soil is rich." Phonemes: /r/ /ɪ/ /tʃ/ (ch in 1 box)

Word 2: shed "Snakes shed dry skin." Phonemes: /ʃ/ (sh in 1 box) /ɛ/ /d/

Word 3: that "I like that fast animal." Phonemes: /ð/ (th in 1 box) /æ/ /t/

Fact vs. Opinion Distinction

• • Fact: "The bat has wings." (Proven true by observation).
• • Opinion: "In my opinion, the bat is the best." (Personal feeling).
• • Teach newcomers that opinion statements use feeling words (like, think, best, cool).

Digraph Phonics Support

• • sh: Hushing sound (finger to lips: /ʃ/).
• • ch: Train chug sound (/tʃ/).
• • th: Tongue between teeth sound (/θ/ or /ð/).

Formative Writing Assessment Rubric (ELPA21 Level 1–2)

Writing 1 • Unit: Desert Survivors Page 2 of 2

Used all 5 words Spelled words correctly Read sentences aloud

Writing 1 • Desert Survivors • Lesson 3 Resource Page 2 of 2

Writing 1 • Unit: Desert Survivors Page 1 of 2

Instructional Scripts & Assessment

Dictation Script & Rubric

Lesson 4 Guide

Part 3 Auditory Dictation Script (Teacher Read-Aloud)

Read each word three times clearly. Remind students: "The vowel says its name because silent 'e' sits at the end. Write the 3 sounds, then write the silent 'e' in the special box."

Word 1: cave "Bats sleep in a cave." Sounds: /k/ /eɪ/ /v/ + silent e

Word 2: bite "Snakes bite to catch food." Sounds: /b/ /aɪ/ /t/ + silent e

Word 3: hole "Rats dig a deep hole." Sounds: /h/ /oʊ/ /l/ + silent e

VCe Phonics Challenges

• • Omitting Silent 'e': Writing cav for cave or hol for hole. Teach students to check if the vowel is long.
• • Run-on Sentences with 'because': Ensure students don't write "Because cactus water" without an independent opinion clause.

Cumulative Progress in Week 2

• • Lesson 3: Stated opinion on desert animals with simple frames.
• • Lesson 4: Expanded opinion into a multi-clause compound statement backed by factual plant evidence.

Formative Writing Assessment Rubric (ELPA21 Level 1–2)

Writing 1 • Unit: Desert Survivors Page 2 of 2

Cloze Reading Self-Check:

Used all 5 plant words Spelled words correctly Read sentences aloud

Writing 1 • Desert Survivors • Lesson 4 Resource Page 2 of 2

Teacher Rubric

Comprehensive ELPA21 Writing Rubric (Levels 1–2)

Teacher Conferencing Prompts During Writing

For Opinion Writers:

• "Do you want to see the hot desert? Why or why not?"
• "Tell me: 'I want to visit because...' What word from our bank can you use?"

For Informational Writers:

• "What animal or plant did you choose? What does it do to stay alive?"
• "Point to the word for where it lives. Can we add that to your sentence?"

Formative Scoring Note

Record the student's final score (1 to 4) directly on the bottom scoring strip of Page 2 on their Showcase Writing Project sheet. Provide one praise point and one actionable next step (e.g. "Great reason with 'because'!" or "Remember your final period.").

Writing 1 • Desert Survivors • Culminating Showcase Page 2 of 2

Cloze Reading Self-Check:

Used all 5 words Spelled words correctly Read sentences aloud

Writing 1 • Desert Survivors • Showcase Resource Page 2 of 2