If your 3rd - 8th grade students struggle to "show don't tell" and stretch their narrative writing with dialogue, character emotions, and descriptive and sensory details, this resource is for you.

Teach the art of elaboration by showing kids how to add sensory details, dialogue, and character emotions to stretch out their stories and take them from drab to fab! This resource includes sensory word lists and word cards for the following: see, hear, smell, taste, touch, emotions, and dialogue or character thoughts. There are 30 words per detail type. Whether your students select and use the word cards to add sensory details to their work in progress, or you use the cards to spark a brand new story idea, these cards will definitely improve your students’ writing pieces. This resource also includes an editable Google Slideshow with blank word cards and word lists that you can customize with your own words, as well as printable blank cards and word lists that you can handwrite on.

This resource is good for . . .

• Students with IEPS

• English learners

• Developing readers-writers

• Advanced writers

• Fast finishers

• Centers or writing stations

How To Prepare Your Materials

Print out the word lists and/or words cards you want to use, then cut them apart. For added durability, I recommend printing them out on card stock and laminating them. The cards all include an icon to indicate the kind of detail, which allows for easy sorting and clean up.

What's Included?

• Teacher’s Guide

• Half page word lists (30 words per list) for: see, hear, smell, taste, touch, emotions, dialogue, blank list

• Sensory Word Bank Cards (30 word cards per page) for: see, hear, smell, taste, touch, emotions, dialogue

• Blank Word List cards

• Blank Sensory Word Bank Cards for teachers to handwrite in their own words

• A Google Slideshow with blank, editable sensory detail cards

In My Classroom

When I first introduced this resource to my 5th grader Writing Intervention class, we had just completed this short SWBST summary activity to plan out a new story. We knew the character and their conflict, but the kids needed help further developing their storyline, so I used this resource as a continuation of the story planning process.

I cut apart the word cards and place them into baggies around the room; one baggie per detail type. Each team of students moved from station to station selecting 2 details per card. They then physically organized the details into the basic plot line and recited when and how they would use each word in their story. Every student was engaged and asked to do this activity again sometime soon.

I'd love to hear how you use this resource in your classroom! Feel free to email me at iteachiwrite@yahoo.com with any questions or suggestions you may have.

Copyright © iTeach & iWrite by Betsy Newmeyer.

All rights reserved by the author.

Permission to use for single classroom use only.