4 Lesson Plan Ideas on How to Add Details to Writing in 4th Grade

One essential aspect of writing in upper elementary is for fourth graders to add details to writing to bring a story, essay, or paragraph to life.

However, students find it tricky to include enough details in their writing, which makes their paragraphs too short or not descriptive enough.

One way to help students improve their ability to add details is to offer them plenty of practice opportunities that can help them hone their skills and produce engaging and descriptive writing.

This blog post will introduce you to four writing activities upper elementary teachers can utilize to help students improve their ability to add detail to their paragraphs. 

Writing Activity 1: Introduce Different Ways to Add Details to Writing

Right off the bat, focus on defining what it means to add details by introducing each elaboration technique. 

Hold off on spilling all the details about adding details to their writing using each elaboration strategy. 

Instead, focus on one or two elaboration strategies during a writing lesson for students to familiarize themself with the terms and their characteristics. 

The amount of time spent on each type of elaboration depends on the feedback from your students.

To start this lesson, use a set of elaboration posters and matching notes to focus on each writing strategy. 

Initiate the assignment by projecting one poster and defining the elaboration term as they write it down.

Next, read the example and discuss the characteristics of the sentences. 

Take the time to point out the sentence starters within the sample paragraph. 

Last, use the paragraphs to practice adding details with the introduced elaboration strategy. 

As an extension, students can practice adding details with a partner.

It's always fun to hear the variations of sentences among groups.

Writing Activity 2: Add a Writing Details Reference Wall

Once students practice adding details, add their responses below the elaboration posters for students to reference the examples throughout the year. 

Including an elaboration reference wall in the classroom can be helpful for students to reference when working independently.

Writing Activity 3: Go Around the Room Adding Details 

As the kids gain familiarity with identifying different types of elaborations, they must also increase their confidence in applying them to their essays.

One way to practice adding details to their writing is by taking paragraphs they have written from previous essays and having them add details with one type of elaboration.

To begin with, type the paragraph of your choosing to protect students from identifying other students' handwriting.

Next, add an elaboration poster above each paragraph for students to know which elaboration strategy they will include. 

Post the elaboration poster and its corresponding paragraph in different parts of the classroom to have kids rotate through each elaboration poster.

Teacher Tip: Use an essay students are currently working on for them to leave with plenty of elaboration examples they can add to their essay as a revision.

Writing Activity 4: Collaboratively Add Details to Writing

 In this activity, students write a paragraph together in small groups. Each student takes turns adding a different elaboration strategy to a section in an essay. 

Teacher Tip: Select an essay you have written with the class. Then take the opportunity to discuss the differences in paragraphs when adding details.

To make this activity a challenge between groups, prompt them to add details to their writing by including as many elaboration strategies as possible.

Wrapping It Up

By incorporating these writing activities into their lesson plans, teachers can help their students to develop their writing skills and produce more compelling, detailed writing.

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