ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Teaching Without Frills How-To Writing For Kids – Procedural Writing – Episode 1: Brainstorming
Have you ever wanted to teach someone how to do something? That’s what how-to writing is all about! It’s a fun way to share your knowledge with others by writing down the steps they need to follow.
To start, you need to pick something you know how to do really well. This is called brainstorming. Think about all the things you can do and make a list. You can use a special chart called a graphic organizer to help you organize your ideas.
Let’s think of some ideas together. Maybe you know how to make a delicious pizza. Or perhaps you can show someone how to grow a beautiful plant. You might be great at telling time or wrapping presents. These are all fantastic topics!
Now, look at your list and choose the topic you know the most about. This will make it easier for you to explain the steps clearly. For example, if you know a lot about growing plants, that might be your best choice!
Once you’ve picked your topic, you’re ready for the next step. In the next episode, we’ll learn how to start our writing with a great introduction. Stay tuned!
Create a How-To Booklet: Choose one of the topics from your brainstorming list. Create a small booklet by folding sheets of paper. On each page, write one step of your how-to guide and draw a picture to go with it. Share your booklet with a family member or friend and see if they can follow your instructions!
How-To Show and Tell: Pick a simple task you can do well, like tying shoelaces or making a sandwich. Prepare a short presentation where you demonstrate each step to your classmates or family. Ask them to follow along and try it themselves. This will help you practice explaining steps clearly and see how well your instructions work.
Observation Walk: Go on a walk around your home or neighborhood with a notebook. Look for everyday tasks people are doing, like gardening or cooking. Write down the steps you think they might be following. Later, discuss with a parent or teacher how you could turn these observations into a how-to guide.
**How-To Writing**
**Episode 1: Brainstorming**
What is how-to writing? It’s exactly what it sounds like: you write to teach someone how to do something.
So, how can you choose what to write about? First, brainstorm things that you know how to do that you could teach others. I’m going to use a graphic organizer to help me brainstorm topic ideas.
Let’s see… what do I know how to do? I know how to make a pizza. I know how to grow a plant. I could teach young children how to tell time. Or I could teach how to wrap a present.
Which one should I choose? I’ll pick the one that I know the most about: growing a plant.
Check out episode 2 to see how I start my writing with an introduction.
