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Rex Features via AP Images
You Write It Descriptive Writing,

Pit of Fire

The Darvaza gas crater in Turkmenistan has been on fire for close to 50 years. Read about it in this descriptive-writing activity.

From the February 2018 Issue

Learning Objective: to edit a short text so that it is more descriptive

Featured Skill: Descriptive Writing,
Other Key Skills: revision
Topic: Science,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R1, W5, L3
  • Grade 6
    R.6.1, W.6.5, L.6.3
  • Grade 7
    R.7.1, W.7.5, L.7.3
  • Grade 8
    R.8.1, W.8.5, L.8.3
TEKS Standards
  • Grade 6
    6.10; 6.14
  • Grade 7
    7.10; 7.14
  • Grade 8
    8.10; 8.14

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Dig Deeper with These Texts
Video (3:23)

As a class, watch this brief episode of SciShow, which explains the history and science behind the Darvaza Crater.

Article

Have students read this Guardian article about soil scientist George Kourounis, the first person to descend into the Darvaza crater. The article includes incredible photos of his journey.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

1. MODELING

  • Model the activity with the “You Write It” Model Text.
  • Additionally, watch the video below for the paired-text feature “Killer Smog,” from the April 2016 issue of Scope, which is full of vivid descriptive writing. In the behind-the-scenes video, author Lauren Tarshis shares her techniques for creating mood, writing with sensory details, and building pictures in her readers’ minds. Have students read the article and watch the video before completing this issue’s You Write It. Students can use the activity as a starting point to try out the techniques Lauren mentions in the video.

2. READING THE PASSAGE

  • Read the issue’s passage as a class or independently.
  • Notice the words in bold. They are vague—meaning they are not very descriptive.

3. WRITING

  • Follow the prompts in the circles to make the writing more vivid.  
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