Are You Studying
United States History This Year?
Don't Waste Your Time on ANY Other
Writing Program?
Use U.S. HISTORY WRITING LESSONS - VOL. 1
(EXPLORERS TO THE GOLD RUSH) Student/Teacher Combo
To Save Yourself Time and
Help Your Child Enjoy Writing!
August 8, 2011
Dear Fellow Writing Teacher, Homeschool Mom or Parent,
Lori Verstegan has done it again. She
provides 34 writing lessons for moms & teachers who are studying or
teaching United States history.
Most lessons begin with activities to teach a stylistic technique or
writing structure. These vary from strong verbs to show emotions to
topic sentences/clinchers to similes. An overview of the lesson is
provided, as well as a step-by-step (EASY TO FOLLOW) lesson
plan.
U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons, Volume 1 are just another excellent supplement
to Teaching Writing: Structure & Style. Lori provides 2-6 lessons for
each of TWSS (IEW's Teaching Writing) units thus covering stories,
reports, formal essays, critiques and creative writing. Checklists are
provided for both the teacher & student.
So you're wondering what ages can use U.S. History-Based Writing
Lessons?
Glad you asked because Lori has thought of everything. In her
easy-to-follow lessons, she separates her instructions for elementary
(4th-6th grade) to junior high to high school. To help teach different ages of
students, different checklists & assignments are given.
Watch the following video for a general overview of History-Based Writing products.
Contents
Scope and Sequence
Introductory Lesson
Poetry Lesson 1: America/ Quality Adjectives & Alliteration
Lesson 2: Native Americans & European Explorers/ Strong Verbs & "-ly"
Words
Writing From Key Word Outlines (IEW
Units I & II) Lesson 3: Jamestown/ Key Word Outlines
Lesson 4: Mayflower/ Using Action Verbs & Imagery
Lesson 5: Jamestown/ Who/Which Claus, Sentence Openers & Titles from
Clinchers
Lesson 6: Mayflower/ Grammar Rule 1 and #2 Sentence Opener
Summarizing References (IEW Unit IV) Lesson 7: Colonial Life/ Topic Sentences & Clinchers
Optional: Colonial Life/ Preparing Oral Reports
Lesson 8: Colonial Life/ Two or Three-Paragraph Reports
Lesson 9: French and Indian War/ Choosing Topics
Optional: Thanksgiving Poetry
Narrative Stories (IEW Unit III) Lesson 10: Boston Tea Party/ Story Sequence Chart
Lesson 11: "Shot Heard 'Round the World"/ Using Quotation Marks in
Dialogue
Lesson 12: Boston Tea Party/ Decorations: 3sss, Similes, Metaphors
Lesson 13: "Shot Hear 'Round the World"/
Emotion Words & Refining the Who/Which
Clause
Optional: Christmas Party
Research Reports (IEW Unit IV) Lesson 14: Declaration of Independence/ Notes & Fused Outlines
Lesson 15: Declaration of Independence/ Grammar: Ellipses, Semicolons &
Colons
Lesson 16: Declaration of Independence/ Dramatic Openers/Closter &
Bibliographies
Lesson 17: Biography of a Revolutionary War Figure/
Basic Essays & More Comma Rules
Lesson 18: Biography/ Adverb
Clause
Formal Reports/Essays (IEW Unit VIII) Lesson 19: Biography/ Introductions & Conclusions
Lesson 20: Biography/ Anecdotal Openers & Closers
Lesson 21: Biography/ Presenting Oral Reports
Lesson 22: Preamble to the Constitution/ In Your Own Words & Transitional
Words
Lesson 23: U.S. Constitution/ Review of Structure
Lesson 24: U.S. Constitution/ #4 Sentence Opener
Creative Writing (IEW Unit VII) Lesson 25: The Bill of Rights - Freedom of Religion/
Writing From a Prompt
Lesson 26: Francis Scott Key and the Flag/ Grammar: Avoid the Indefinite
"You"
Optional: More Essays
Critiques (IEW Unit IX) Lesson 27: Lewis and Clark Expedition/ Critique Model
Lesson 28: Lewis and Clark Expedition/ Avoid the Indefinite "You"
Lesson 29: Historical Fiction/ More Critiquing
Lesson 30: Historical Fiction/ More Critiquing
Writing From Pictures (IEW Unit V) &
Descriptive Poetry Lesson 31: Pictures: Oregon Trail/ Grammar: Past Perfect
Tense
Lesson 32: Poetry: Alamo/ Duel Verbs, "-ly" Words, Adjectives
Lesson 33: Pictures: Oregon Trail/ Personification
Lesson 34: Poetry: California Gold Rush/ Haiku
Optional: Final Class Party: Review Games & Auction
Before I close, let me also share the
stylistic techniques your students will either review or learn with US
History Writing Lessons:
Quality Adjectives
Strong Verbs with emotions
Adverbs (-ly words)
Action Verbs
Dialogue (Punctuating)
Showing Emotions
Appealing to five senses
Sentence Openers
Who/Which Clause
Dramatic Openers
More Sentence Openers (because, clausal)
Alliteration
3 Simple, short sentences
Simile
Adverb Clause
Critique Vocabulary
Thesis statement
I lead a co-op and used the
American History Text this year and was very pleased.
For me, the most appealing
aspect of the "topic" based writing programs is that they
generally coincide with something that I'm already teaching.
Therefore, although the writing may be a new aspect of my
History lesson, the material still parallels with a subject
we're covering. And, although the writing assignments don't
always correspond with my lesson plans, they either
reinforce something we've already covered or they introduce
something yet to come.
One of my favorite parts of
the American History program is the way vocabulary is
introduced and integrated into the writing. It is great!
Another favorite, yet very challenging concept was the idea
of eliminating "to be" verbs. Wow! Very difficult, but it
made an incredible difference in the kids' writings.
We struggled in only one
portion of the program --- the Preamble, the Constitution
and the significance of the American Flag -- all close
together. Most fifth graders have heard of the constitution
but don't fully understand it. The preamble in particular is
a very complex concept. And I don't believe that 10- and
11-year-olds have fully developed an ability to emotionally
attach themselves or comprehend--well, much of anything,
much less the American flag.
We had to stop and
specifically cover these topics before the kids were truly
able to write about them. Unfortunately, I knew we missed
the boat when my son said, "I'm just going to write, that
when I see an American flag, I feel proud to be an American
and I think of what my forefathers sacrifice for me."
"Wow! You're pretty amazing.
Is that how you really feel every time you see a flag?"
"No, not really, but that
would be the easiest thing to write. Besides and it would
make a good poem." I guess I need to buy the Character
packet next!
~Kathy~
Co-op Leader
Throughout the
Manual, You Receive
Several BONUS ITEMS:
Stylistic Charts & Helps -
You should refer to these charts when your kids need help
brainstorming or developing an outline. Some of the lists include:
--Quality Adjectives
--Strong Verbs
--"-ly" Words
Stories - The
stories and lessons are right here in the book for you. You
do NOT have to spend time searching for each fairy tale and/or making
it appropriate for the age of your child.
Samples & Examples -
There are samples of other children's work, as well as examples of
the concept Lori is teaching for that lesson.
Vocabulary Cards -
Students will be instructed to cut out one set of cards each lesson.
They will be expected to include some vocabulary words in each
composition they write. The student will also be quizzed (include in
teacher's manual) over the words periodically. The goal is that these
words will become part of each student's natural writing vocabulary.
Games for Review/Fun
Ideas for Your Students
As an ADDED BONUS...
when you grab your Student/Teacher Combo copy of US History-Based
Writing Lessons Vol. 1
1. Student Resource Notebook eBook (digital download for each of your own children)
Structure Models
Strong Verb Charts
-ly Words (Adverbs)
Quality Adjective Charts
Five Senses & Emotions
Decorations
Transition Words & Phrases
Grammar Rules - Punctuation, Confused Words, Clauses, Phrases, etc
Charts & Checklists
Answers to Exercises
2. Teacher Manual
3. Free "Substitute Source Texts and Checklists" Ebook Supplement Included for Level A students! US History Vol. 1 includes alternative pacing for either a 30-week or 25-week program as well as substitute source texts and checklists for level A students in grades 3-5. (The source texts and checklists included in the physical book are designed for level B students in grades 6-8.)
4. FREE SHIPPING-
That's right! You do NOT pay shipping. It's on us.
100% Money-Back Guarantee
If you don't like the product or
it doesn't fit your child, we will give you a full refund,
no questions asked!
Your success in using
this powerful approach to teaching writing is completely
guaranteed!
One side note...this book is a
SUPPLEMENT to
IEW
Structure & Style writing course. It is not intended to be a
stand-alone writing curriculum. If you are not familiar with the
writing process outlined in
Structure & Style, I would recommend purchasing it before or with
this supplement.
