Lesson Plan: Creative Writing for Students with Special Needs

Grade Level: 6-8

Objective: Students will develop their creative writing skills by exploring various writing techniques, engaging in collaborative activities, and expressing their thoughts and ideas through written work.

Standards: - Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6-8.3) - National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Standards for the English Language Arts (Standard 4: Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes)

Materials: - Whiteboard or chart paper - Markers - Laptops or tablets (optional) - Access to the internet - Various short stories, poems, and excerpts from novels - Rubrics for assessing creative writing

Lesson 1: Introduction to Creative Writing (60 minutes)

1. Warm-up Activity (10 minutes):
   • Engage students in a brainstorming activity where they share their favorite books, movies, or TV shows.
   • Discuss the elements that make these stories interesting and engaging.
2. Introduction to Creative Writing (20 minutes):
   • Define creative writing and explain its purpose.
   • Discuss different forms of creative writing, such as short stories, poems, and novels.
   • Show a video (e.g., “Introduction to Creative Writing” by Khan Academy) to provide visual support and examples.
3. Reading and Discussion (30 minutes):
   • Provide students with a short story or poem.
   • Read the text aloud or provide an audio recording to accommodate different learning styles.
   • Discuss the story’s characters, setting, and plot.
   • Encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings about the story.

Lesson 2: Exploring Writing Techniques (60 minutes)

1. Review (10 minutes):
   • Recap the previous lesson by asking students to recall the elements of a story.
   • Discuss the importance of descriptive language in creative writing.
2. Descriptive Writing Activity (30 minutes):
   • Provide students with a picture or a visual prompt.
   • Instruct students to write a descriptive paragraph or short story based on the image.
   • Encourage students to use sensory details and vivid language.
3. Peer Feedback (20 minutes):
   • Pair students and have them exchange their written work.
   • Instruct students to provide constructive feedback to their partners.
   • Emphasize the importance of positive and specific feedback.

Lesson 3: Collaborative Writing (60 minutes)

1. Warm-up Activity (10 minutes):
   • Engage students in a group discussion about their favorite fictional characters.
   • Encourage students to share why they find these characters interesting.
2. Collaborative Storytelling (30 minutes):
   • Divide students into small groups.
   • Provide each group with a story starter or a prompt.
   • Instruct students to take turns adding to the story, building upon each other’s ideas.
3. Group Presentations (20 minutes):
   • Have each group present their collaborative story to the class.
   • Encourage students to use expressive language and gestures while presenting.

Lesson 4: Writing and Editing (60 minutes)

1. Review (10 minutes):
   • Recap the previous lessons by discussing the elements of a story and the importance of descriptive language.
2. Writing Exercise (30 minutes):
   • Provide students with a writing prompt or ask them to choose their own topic.
   • Instruct students to write a short story or poem using the techniques they have learned.
3. Peer Editing (20 minutes):
   • Pair students and have them exchange their written work.
   • Instruct students to provide feedback on grammar, punctuation, and overall clarity.
   • Provide a rubric for students to use as a guide.

Lesson 5: Sharing and Reflection (60 minutes)

1. Warm-up Activity (10 minutes):
   • Engage students in a discussion about the writing process.
   • Ask students to share their favorite part of the writing process and why.
2. Sharing and Feedback (30 minutes):
   • Provide an opportunity for students to share their written work with the class.
   • Encourage students to provide positive feedback and ask questions about each other’s work.
3. Reflection (20 minutes):
   • Instruct students to reflect on their growth as writers throughout the unit.
   • Ask students to write a short reflection piece, discussing their strengths and areas for improvement.

Assessment: - Rubrics for assessing creative writing can be used to evaluate students’ written work based on criteria such as creativity, organization, use of descriptive language, and grammar.

Additional Resources: - “Introduction to Creative Writing” by Khan Academy (video) - “Creative Writing Prompts for Kids” by Journal Buddies (website) - “Short Stories for Middle School” by American Literature (website) - “Poetry for Kids” by Kenn Nesbitt (website)