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Unit Title

Realistic Fiction Writing


Grade Level: 4th

Unit Length:10 days

Major Focus: Elements of


Realistic Fiction

Major C4 Strand: Genre

Why Teach This?


To teach children to include important features of Realistic Fiction
in writing.
To teach children how to generate and develop ideas for writing
Realistic Fiction.
To teach students hot to provide insight into their main characters
by fully developing their characters.
To teach children to help create a picture in their readers mind by
using words that show, not just tell, the main characters actions
and/or feelings.
Framing Questions:
How do we write a Realistic Fiction piece with fully developed
main characters?
How do we add strong details to show the reader our main
characters actions, setting, and events?
Unit Goals:
Students will learn how to generate and develop ideas for writing
Realistic Fiction.
Students will convey information about their characters through
their actions, feelings, and dialogue.
Students write purposeful dialogue that advances the story.
Students will learn how to craft a scene to show, not tell, the
characters actions and feelings.
Anchor Texts and Resources:
Anchor Texts and Resources:
Flip Flop Girl by Katharine Paterson
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Fig Pudding by Ralph Fletcher
The Bears House by Marilyn Sachs
The Trading Game by Alfred Slote
Skinneybones by Barbara Park
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
LitLife 2008.

Report Card by Andrew Clements


The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Room One by Andrew Clements
Shh No Talking! By Andrew Clements
State Standards Addressed:
Composition
Write a variety of compositions, using the writing process (e.g., prewriting, drafting,
revising, proofreading, editing)
Develop ideas by writing sentences that are in logical order and organized into
paragraphs
Review writing independently in order to edit for the correct use of grade-appropriate
spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and verb tense
Vary the tone, vocabulary, and sentence structure according to the audience and
purpose of writing
Exhibit personal voice when writing
Begin to use literary devices such as simile and figurative language
Review writing with teachers and peers and be able to respond to feedback
Standard 2: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for literary response and
expression.
Write original literary texts that
- use dialogue to create short plays
- use vivid and playful language
Produce clear, well-organized responses to stories read or listened to, supporting the
understanding of characters and events with details from the story
Use resources such as personal experiences and themes from the text and
performances to stimulate own writing
Maintain a portfolio that includes literary and interpretive writing as a method of
reviewing work with teachers and parents/caregivers
Describe the characters and explain how they change, with assistance
Standard 3: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and
evaluation.
Use personal experiences and knowledge to analyze and evaluate new ideas
Maintain a portfolio that includes written analysis and evaluation as a method of
reviewing work with teachers and parents/caregivers

Unit Assessment:
Complete 4 Component: Realistic Fiction
Student Name:

LitLife 2008.

Emergi
ng

Developi
ng

Independe
nt

Generates and develops ideas for


writing Realistic Fiction
Conveys information about their
characters through their actions,
feelings, and dialogue
Writes purposeful dialogue that
advances the story
Demonstrates ability to create a picture
in their readers mind by using words
that show, not just tell, the main
characters actions and/or feelings

LitLife 2008.

Suggested Mini-Lessons
Read aloud Realistic Fiction pieces.
Identify features of Realistic fiction and character development,
as well as setting and dialogue.
Compare and contrast Realistic Fiction in different forms (picture
books, magazines, chapter books)
Observe and discuss where and how authors get their ideas for
generating ideas in writers notebooks. ie.(observations,
problem/issues in society, family rituals and traditions,
fictionalized memories, created characters, traumatic memories,
newspaper and news stories, etc.)
Students will identify and record Realistic Fiction from their own
independent books in their writers journal.
Have students share with their reading partners.
Model how to go from writers journal to drafting their own
Realistic Fiction.
Demonstrate and model several examples of character
development. ie. T-chart, possibly of a friend.
Identify to students how to show, dont tell. (ie. body language,
facial expression).
Chart possible Egg Words (ie. Afraid, excited, upset, happy, and
add details to these general words together.)
Children can then go back into their independent writing and
identify Egg Words to expand on.
Model for students how to develop character through scene. ( ie.
Show character change over time, unpack big action into a series
of smaller actions, follow dialogue with action, similes to show
feelings, using adjectives sparingly and in a purposeful way.)
Students now try to create their own scene in their journals
which demonstrates character development and dialogue.
Discuss with students a possible reflection and model for
students what a well done reflection looks like.
Model how to set personal goals for students and then have tem
set personal goals for what to possibly work on as they move
forward.
Celebrate with the students their accomplishments in writing.
Realistic Fiction.

LitLife 2008.

Recommended Texts When Teaching Realistic


Fiction Writing
Professional Resources
What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers, Anne Bernays and
Pamela Painter
Time for Meaning, Randy Bomer
Writing Fiction, Janet Burroway
The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers, John Gardner
Fiction Is Folks: How to Create Unforgettable Characters, Robert
Newton Peck
Craft Lessons: Teaching Writing K-8, Ralph Fletcher and JoAnn Portalupi
Good Sources for Short Fiction Mentors (and Texts for Immersion)
Collections of Short Fiction
Baseball in April, Gary Soto
What Do Fish Have to Do With Anything, Avi
Magazines that always feature short fiction
Highlights
Ladybug
New Moon
Picture Books
Fireflies!, Julie Brinkloe
Fly Away Home, Eve Bunting
Oliver Button Is a Sissy, Tomie dePaola
The Dot, Peter H. Reynolds
The Other Side, Jacqueline Woodson

LitLife 2008.

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