Heather Boulanger
Vermont Writing Collaborative Summer 2011 Common Core Strand
Kindergarten Class – Writing assignment 1
Content: (RK: 3) Letters are used to make words and words convey meaning.
Reading: Using the picture book, Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom by Bill Martin Jr., I will show the students that letters are used to make up words and words can be used to express ideas.
Writing: With guidance students will be able to express how letters are important to them (Letters are important because________). I will ask every student for their response and write it out on chart paper (Joe said, “Letters are important because they are in my name.”)
Focusing question: Why are letters important?
Focus: Letters are used to make words and words convey meaning.
Test Drive: After reading the book, Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom to my Kindergarten students, I will ask them, “Why do you think letters are important?” On a chart paper I will have each child dictate to me why they think letters are important. Some students may say letters are important because they are in my name, letters are important because I see them on signs or in books, letters are important because I know my ABC’s, and etc. Then I will type up each child’s response and have them make a page of our class big book titled “Letters are Important to Us. They will cut out a tree and will put foam letters on their trees. I will give each child what they said about letters to attach to their big book page. On the first page of the big book, I will write the focus sentence: There are many reasons why letters are important to us. Then there will be each child’s page (details). For a conclusion I will write: There are many reasons why letters are important to us. Letters make words and words have meaning! After the big book is completed I will read it to my students. I will have model a painted paragraph for my students.
Extension: I will read the book again to my Kindergartners and have them recognize upper case and lower case letters. We could discuss when we use uppercase letters (beginning of names, titles of books, on signs, etc.) As a center activity I would have students sorting uppercase and lower case letters.

Heather Boulanger
Vermont Writing Collaborative Summer 2011 Common Core Strand
Kindergarten Class – Writing assignment 2
Content: (K: 30) - Plants and animal change through the seasons.
Reading: Our class will be reading about the seasons. We will be observing the changes a tree goes through during the seasons. We will also be learning about ourselves and how we change through the seasons.
Writing: The students will write down their observations in their tree/me journals for each season. I will take their picture by the same tree for all 4 seasons. They will write what they noticed about the tree and about themselves. I will model this activity by using a chart with two columns: In the summer the tree…./ In the summer I….. I will do this same activity for all the seasons. At the end of the year, I will put together their books titled: Kindergarteners and Trees change during the seasons. We will compose as a group an informative text based on our observations.
Focusing Question: How do Kindergarteners and trees change during the seasons?
Focus: Kindergartners and trees change during the seasons. During the seasons changes occur in the weather and these changes affect plants and animals.

Test Drive: As a group the students will dictate what they observed about the tree and themselves through the 4 seasons. Then I will write a group report for each season. At the end of the year I will compile all 4 season group reports into a class book. Each child will have their own tree/me books to take home at the end of the school year.

Kindergarteners and trees change during the seasons of the year. Both people and trees are living things that need: water, food, air, and space. During the seasons many changes occur in the weather and these changes affect plants and animals.
In the summer, my tree’s leaves are bushy and green. I wear my bathing suit and swim in the pool. It is very hot.
In the fall, my tree’s leaves are changing colors. The leaves are red, yellow, orange, and brown. They are starting to fall off the tree. I am wearing a coat in the morning and the weather is cooler.
In the winter, my tree’s leaves are gone. My tree is bare. I have to wear my snowsuit, boot, hat, and gloves. It is chilly!
In the spring, my tree has buds on it. I see little leaves starting to grow. I can go outside and ride my bike. I don’t have to wear a coat. I still have to wear boots because it’s mud season!
Kindergarteners and trees change during the seasons of the year.

Heather Boulanger
Vermont Writing Collaborative Summer 2011 Common Core Strand
Kindergarten Class – Writing assignment 3
Content: Explore ourselves, the community, and the world around us.
Reading: In the picture book, What I like about Me, students will see how words and pictures can be used to express ideas.
Writing: Student will use words and draw a self portrait to show that they are special and unique.
Focusing Question: Why are you special and unique?
Focus: We are all special and unique because we are different. We have different physical features and traits that make us unique.
Test Drive: After reading the book What I like about Me by Tracy Smudin, I will have my kindergarteners tell me how the people in the book were unique: short, tall, wore glasses, curly hair, braces, and etc. Then ask them, what makes you special and unique? I will write down their responses (Example: Emma is special because she has lots of freckles). Then I will have each child draw a self portrait. I will have my students look in mirrors and draw their self portraits. I will type up what they said made them special and attach it to their self portraits.