Presented by: Carolyn M. Ragatz

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Writing Projects with Creative Appeal

• Presented by Carolyn M. Ragatz
• CAG Annual Conference March 4, 2006

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Projects
Historical Essay and Paper Doll
Monster Book
Alphabet Book
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Historical Essay

• This project combines research and creative
  writing, along with a paper doll art project.
• The writing is a first person essay about an
  historical figure or type of person (knight,
  sailor, gold miner.)
• It includes factual information from the time
  period being studied. Students use information
  covered in class, as well as researched material.
  
• Part of the writing will be fiction, students use
  their imaginations to create the person, however,
  it must be realistic for the time in history. It
  is graded using the 6-Trait writing rubric,
  focusing on historically accurate content.

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Paper Doll

• Students decorate their paper doll to look like
  their historical character.
• Students may use paper or fabric. They cut out
  costumes and glue them onto the cardboard doll.
• A variety of sources can be used to get ideas,
  but they must be created by the student, not
  printed out and glued onto the cardboard doll.
• The doll needs to be historically accurate in
  style and color.

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Monster Book

• This project combines creative writing and art.
  Students will make a childrens book using
  original artwork.
• This book is about a child that is overcoming a
  fear.
• Examples
• the dark closet
• the monster under the bed.
• Students will use pop-up art, collage, and
  original drawings to illustrate the book.
• The book is bound using foam board and fabric for
  a special finished product.

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ABC Book

• This project is adaptable to many different
  topics in Social Studies and Science.
• There are a wide variety of ABC books to share to
  get students inspired.
• Using a planning grid will help students organize
  their words before starting.
• Books can be run off with the alphabet already on
  the pages and assembled, for ease of keeping
  pages in order.

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ABC Book, Cont.

• Certain letters, like q, x, and z, may need
  additional help or creative solutions.
• Guidelines for types of words may be altered.
• For Example A State Book
• Requirements cities, places of interest, facts,
  etc.
• It is recommended to assign a particular amount
  of pages per time allotment to avoid
  procrastination.

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Contact Me

• Detailed instructions for each project are
  available on my website under Conference
  Handouts.
• www.teacherweb.com/az/andersen/msragatz/
• Email carolyn_at_ragatz.com