Let's start with a simple activity about a special place - a beautiful state!
Pre-Writing Activity
First, visit some web sites that give information about California. Here are two:
Califoria
Tourism
Palm
Springs Tourism
Remember - this is not a report, this will be a descriptive essay. Right now, you are just looking for lots of descriptive words about California. Start with adjectives.
When you see or think of an adjective or phrase that describes California, write it down. Collect plenty of words and phrases.
Now you are ready to use the graphic organizer to organize your thoughts.
Copy or Print out this organizer.
Put "CALIFORNIA" in the middle, and start grouping your descriptive words
and phrases.
| Some of you may wonder -
How do I group my thoughts? |
Well, do you have a lot of descriptive words and phrases about places in California? If so, you could group these together in one cluster group that will later become a paragraph. Or do you have a lot of descriptive words and phrases about things to do in California? These could also be grouped together in a cluster that will later form a paragraph. You might also have clusters about people, or food, or weather. |
| Is there only one right way to cluster? | Well - yes, and no! Your eventual
paragraphs will need to have a topic sentence and supporting sentences.
So, your clusters should relate to each other to make your paragraph writing
easier later.
|
Now that you have a complete cluster of descriptive words about California, here's another activity to make your descriptive word collection even better!