Step 1: I’m a pumpkin hanging out in the patch with my good buddy scarecrow.

Step 2: Oh! It looks like it’s my turn to go home with a happy family.

Step 3: I’m starting to dislike this family. I mean, what kind of people would cut my top off and scoop out my guts?

Step 4: Now things are getting serious. I’m in pieces all over the kitchen.

Step 5: Why are they putting me in the oven?! This could be the end for me.

Step 6: Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, I am what’s for dessert!

Step 1:Picture 1:

Picture 2: Step 2:

Picture 3: Step 3:

Picture 4: Step 4:

Picture 5: Step 5:

Picture 6: Step 6:

Thanksgiving Personification/Step-by-Step Writing Mentor Texts: Diary of a Pet Turkey: Based on a True Story by Joanne F. Ingis; Beauty and the Beaks: A Cautionary Tale by Mary Jane and Herm Auch; Gus, the Pilgrim Turkey by Ellen Joy Sasaki; A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman; Run, Turkey, Run! By Diane Mayr; Thelonius Turkey lives!: On Felicia Ferguson’s Farm By Lynne Rowe Reed; The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz; The Legend of Spookly, the Square Pumpkin by Joe Toiano; Materials: “When to Change Paragraphs” poster **New rule of writing: Students will not have a teacher conference until their final ROUGH draft. I will be working with small groups to make sure everyone receives equal help. This is the only time you will receive advice from me. We are working on more independence.** Tell students they will be writing about a Thanksgiving food from the food’s perspective. It will be narrative about the process of making that food from garden to table. Day 1Project “Step-by-Step Organizer.” Read the example organizer aloud. Hand out organizer. Have students pick their food choice and fill out their organizer. While reading mentor texts, project the “Step-by-Step Organizer” and help students fill it in with good adjectives from the texts. Create an anchor chart of class favorites.

Day 2Mini lesson on transition words and when to switch paragraphs. Show poster on when to transition. Show/project those words from the editing bucket. Focus on which ones would work best for a six-step process. While reading mentor texts, project the “Step-by-Step Organizer” and help students fill it in with good adjectives from the texts. Create an anchor chart of class favorites. Day 3Work with small groups to begin filling out the organizer. Day 4Begin rough drafts. Work with small groups. Day 5Teacher conferences/wrap up.

Day 6Final drafts/publishing. Show students the links symbaloo.com. Show students how to copy and paste pictures.http://www.pics4learning.com/www.portaportal.comType VISUALLEARNING in the guest box.Use any of the links in the “image resources” boxAlso show clipart. Students may illustrate their own story or complete this at the computer center or computer lab.

Optional: Have students create a “Missing” poster for the food they wrote about.