Activity Objective

The goal of Bubble Diagram: A Pre-Writing Strategy for Stories is to aid students in understanding the various interacting stages of the writing process and provide them with a strategy to organize and guide their writing.

What You Need

Prep Time:

10 minutes
- Gather chart paper and markers

Task Time:

20 minutes
- Teacher shares the writing process
- Teacher models how to create a bubble diagram
- Students brainstorm ideas for story
- Students plan their own story using a bubble diagram

Materials Required:

Teacher:
- Chart paper
- Markers

What You Do

Teacher Role:

Direct instruction:
- while teacher shares the writing process

Modeling:
- while teacher models how to create a bubble diagram

Facilitator:
- while students brainstorm ideas

Consultant:
- while students plan their story

Student Grouping:

Whole class:
- during teacher sharing, teacher modeling and student brainstorming session

Individual:
- during student planning

Assessment Ideas:

- Use a checklist during the whole class discussion as a way to track participation and speaking and listening skills

- Use a rubric to determine the level at which students understand, correctly use and apply the bubble diagram

- During writing conferences review diagrams and offer suggestions for improvements or formative anecdotal comments

Quick Tips

Activity Extensions:

- Model how to use the bubble diagram when completing a first draft of a story

- Use a bubble diagram on 2-3 more occasions and choose a variety of texts

- Have students write a first draft of their story using their bubble diagram as a guide

Additional Comments:

- Explaining why you are writing in point form as opposed to full sentences will help students understand the difference between the planning stage and writing a first draft.

- Encouraging students to think about the "5 W's" and "How" while planning will help them organize their ideas. The "5 W's" include where, what, who, when and why.

- Encouraging students to use a catchy title for their stories helps them think about including interesting words in their writing.

- Encourage participation from all students by having them turn to their nearest neighbors and discuss ideas for the story.

- Have the students visualize how the components of the story come together by having them close their eyes while you read aloud each idea.

Other Adaptations/Modifications:

- Provide student with explicit instructions to include a set number of ideas in their bubble diagram