Today is rung 1 of 1 on this topic
Writing facts about one thing
Can do: Writes three or four true sentences about a single topic, and can tell a fact from a story.
Why it matters
Almost everything they will be asked to write from Grade 3 onwards is informational. Starting with facts about something they already know keeps the load on the writing, not on the thinking.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Drifts into a story — and then my dog ate my shoe and it was funny — instead of staying on facts, or writes the same fact three ways.
⏱️ Two-minute check
"Tell me three true things about dogs." Then: "Now say one thing that is a story, not a fact."
Solid looks like: Three separate facts, and they can spot that the story one is different.
The full activity for this topic · 10 minutes
Three True Things
- 1They pick the topic — something they are already an expert on. Dinosaurs, their pet, football.
- 2Say three facts out loud first, counting them on fingers. Nothing is written yet.
- 3Write one sentence per fact, one under the other. Facts, not feelings.
- 4Read it back and ask whether every line is true and every line is about the same thing.
- 5Add a title that names the topic, and one drawing that shows a fact rather than decorating.
If it's too hard
Two facts, and you scribe the second one while they say it.
If it's too easy
Add a how-to: four numbered steps for something they can do, in the right order.
Say this
"That's a good story. Now give me a fact — something that is true even when you're not there."