Today is rung 4 of 14 on this topic
Writing a paragraph that stays on topic
Can do: Writes a topic sentence, three supporting details, and a closing sentence — all about one thing.
Why it matters
The paragraph is the unit of school writing from here to university. Learning the shape now means later work is about ideas rather than structure.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Wanders off the topic by sentence three, or writes five sentences that each start a new subject.
⏱️ Two-minute check
"Write a paragraph about why dogs make good pets."
Solid looks like: A topic sentence, at least two reasons that support it, and nothing off-topic.
The full activity for this topic · 15 minutes
Hamburger Paragraph
- 1Draw a burger: top bun is the topic sentence, fillings are the details, bottom bun is the closing.
- 2Say the topic sentence out loud before writing anything.
- 3Fill each layer with one detail, checking each one against the topic sentence.
- 4Read it back and hunt for anything that doesn't belong. Cross it out together.
- 5Close with a sentence that isn't just the topic sentence repeated.
If it's too hard
Give them the topic sentence and let them supply only the details.
If it's too easy
Two linked paragraphs, or details ordered by importance.
Say this
"Does that sentence belong in this burger? If it's about something else, it goes in a different one."