Grade 1
The Human Knowledge Project
Unit 3 — Becoming Better Writers
Welcome back!
Reading and writing work together.
The more you read, the better you write.
The more you write, the better you read.
Today we will learn how to become stronger writers.
Why We Write
People write for many reasons.
We write to:
- tell stories
- share ideas
- ask questions
- explain something
- remember important information
- communicate with others
Writing allows our thoughts to travel from our minds to someone else's.
Every Sentence Has a Job
A sentence is a complete thought.
Good sentences tell the reader something clearly.
Examples:
The puppy ran across the yard.
The flowers are blooming.
My family went to the library.
Each sentence shares one complete idea.
Beginning with Capital Letters
Every sentence begins with a capital letter.
Names also begin with capital letters.
Examples:
Maria likes butterflies.
David enjoys reading.
Seattle is a city.
Using capital letters helps readers understand our writing.
Ending Punctuation
Every sentence needs an ending.
A period tells us a statement has ended.
Example:
The bird is singing.
A question mark tells us someone is asking a question.
Example:
Where is the bird?
An exclamation point shows strong feeling or excitement.
Example:
Look at that rainbow!
Good writers choose the correct ending mark.
Describing with Words
Writers help readers imagine.
Instead of writing:
The dog ran.
You might write:
The happy brown dog ran quickly across the green field.
Describing words paint pictures in our minds.
Activity
Look around your room.
Choose one object.
Write three sentences describing it.
Think about:
- its color
- its size
- its shape
- what it does
- why it is useful
Then read your sentences aloud.
Writing Every Day
Strong writers practice often.
You might write:
- a journal
- a letter
- a story
- a list
- observations
- questions
Every page you write helps you improve.
Practice
Complete these sentences.
Today I saw __________________.
My favorite place is __________________.
I enjoy writing about __________________.
One question I would like answered is __________________.
Review
Today you learned:
- why people write
- what makes a complete sentence
- how to begin sentences with capital letters
- how punctuation helps readers
- how describing words make writing more interesting
Every sentence you write helps you become a better communicator.
Looking Ahead
Next we will strengthen our mathematics skills.
We will begin exploring:
- numbers to 100
- place value
- comparing numbers
- counting patterns
Mathematics helps us understand the world in new ways.