Writing Across the Curriculum

Hi everyone,

I'm pleased to be part of a Writing Wednesday link-up hosted by Lyndsey from Lit with Lyns.  This post is focused on Writing Across the Curriculum.  I have had the privilege of teaching a variety of grades.  With grades 4 through 6, I often culminate a math unit with a writing activity.  Students are asked to think about Math in their daily life and focus on an activity called "If Math Were....".  I ask them, "If Math were anything, what would it be?"

I have received numerous responses.  Here are some examples, "Math would be pizza, popcorn, hockey, a tiger, an arena, lasagna, a cake....  Students often surprise me with their responses. Sometimes the responses are about people, food, sports or even animals.  At the end of the year, I ask students to think about Math and to generate a written text incorporating math language they've learned.

Our provincial curriculum is made up of 5 strands:  Number Sense & Numeration, Data Management & Probability, Patterning & Algebra, Measurement and Geometry & Spatial Sense.  Students are asked to choose 3 of those 5 strands to write about their "If Math Were...."

Students are asked to generate a list of things math could be then we break them up into categories.  This activity could also be very cross-curricular.  For example, when teaching grade 4, one of the units in Science is on Habitats.  So, the class was asked to generate a writing piece based on animals so that it could tie in with our Science unit.  Graphic organizers are included to assist students in writing a powerful introduction, three paragraphs and then a clear ending.  The three middle paragraphs focus on the three strands they have chosen.

Final written pieces are placed in a class book with a cover.  The class book then goes in the library for students to read.  An extension of this activity is to have students create a 3 dimensional model of what they have chosen to write about.  Various mediums may be used.  

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