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You Write It Descriptive Writing,

Welcome to the Hottest Place on Earth

This descriptive writing activity is about blisteringly hot Dallol, Ethiopia, in eastern Africa.

From the September 2017 Issue

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

Featured Skill: Descriptive Writing
Featured Skill: Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics,
Topic: Science,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.1, W.5, L.3
  • Grade 6
    R.6.1, R.6.7, W.6.2
  • Grade 7
    RI.7.1, RI.7.7, W.7.2
  • Grade 8
    RI.8.1, RI.8.7, W.8.2
TEKS Standards
  • Grade 6
    6.10; 6.14
  • Grade 7
    7.10; 7.14
  • Grade 8
    8.10; 8.14

Multimedia

EXTENSION ACTIVITY: VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP

Take students on a trip to Dallol, Ethiopia, using Google Earth. Just type “Dallol, Ethiopia” into the search bar and start exploring!

NOTE: You'll need Google Chrome to access Google Earth.

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.
Behind the Scenes: Killer Smog
Author Lauren Tarshis shares three key writing techniques she uses to create thrilling nonfiction articles like "Killer Smog." Perfect for a lesson on author's craft!

2. READING THE PASSAGE

  • Have students read the passage.

3. WRITING

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

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Text-to-Speech