Direct Instruction
The Manaiakalani writing focus for years 1-6 is recounts, so we have been spending a bit of time on those. The students understood the basics about recounts, but their descriptions tended to have very basic adjectives and basic elaboration.
I wanted them to think about the events and settings in their story with greater depth and be more selective with their vocabulary. I love using Youtube clips because they are rewindable (you can go back, watch it again, listen to it again, point out certain features) and because there is so much out there, you can choose something relevant and exciting.
At this point we were only brainstorming words or phrases that we could think of based on our 5 senses. Using the senses as a framework to hang adjectives onto works for them because it makes them realise they have only described what they can see, and hence they put more effort into a balanced description.
After we completed our word brainstorm, we wrote out sentences together to join the adjectives together in compound and complex sentences (see below).
The students could use the word brainstorm and the sentences to help them write their own (fictional) recount about this roller coaster adventure.
