Middle School Text Structure Activity
The other day we had quarterly benchmark testing. On my way to school, I started thinking about my middle and high school experiences.
Thinking back, there is only one multiple-choice test that holds a spot in my memory, and that’s the SAT. Otherwise, I have zero memory of taking tests in school.
It has been 24 years, but what I do remember is creating a project where I had to collect dead bugs, pin them to a poster board, and identify them by looking up their characteristics in a book.
I also remember creating a children’s book in my Spanish class and writing and recording a public service announcement in my English class.
I know multiple-choice tests have their place, but I think sometimes we tend to rely heavily on this method of assessment. And it’s understandable due to the stress of end of grade tests.
Multiple-choice tests may have their place in the world, but when it comes to truly exploring, mastering concepts, and creating
meaningful learning experiences, nothing beats a good old-fashioned project.
That’s why when it came time to assess my students on text structures, I wanted to do something different, something I’ve never done before in the classroom, something exciting and meaningful for the students…
Creating our own websites!
It sounds daunting, but thanks to Google, it’s not that hard to manage!
Check out this sample site! 👉
The goal of the Project
Students create a website that is based on a topic of their interest.
On this website, they include images and at least five articles with different text structures.
Talk about high interest and rigor!
If you want to give something like this a try, here are the steps:
Brainstorm
Students brainstorm a single topic for their project. This should be something that they are interested in and want to research! I have everything from guinea pigs, to football, to Rubix Cubes. I allow my students to work independently or with a partner.
2. Break It Up
In order to keep the project manageable and on track, I review one text structure a day.
For each text structure type, we read a mentor text as a class and fill in a graphic organizer based on the information in the text. This takes about 15 minutes.
3. Plan and Write
During the remaining class period, students work on their own article.
Students brainstorm a type of article they could write with that specific text structure.
Students research for the article and fill in a blank graphic organizer.
Using the information from their graphic organizers, students write the article using the text structure we reviewed at the beginning of class. What is not completed in class, is homework that night. This provides a little extra motivation to stay on task during the class period.
4. Rinse and Repeat
Repeated steps two and three until all five text structures are covered.
5. Create the Site
I provide three workshop days for students to edit and review each other’s articles and set up their Google Site.
I have made a tutorial video that students can watch if they need help. A lot of them are tech savvy, and Google is pretty intuitive, so they pick up on it quickly.
6. Tech Gallery Walk
Students share their sites with their classmates with a tech gallery walk!
Each student/group pulls up their website on their computer.
They place a piece of paper next to their computer.
Set the timer for five minutes. Students move to a computer, review the site, read the articles, and make positive and productive comments on the paper. (I model this before we started.) When the timer ends, students switch to a different computer.
Want to get started?
Here are some Resources to Help You!
Text Structure Project on TPT
This resource includes all of the mentor texts, graphic organizers, and directions for the project.
ELA UNLIMITED
Love this? Want more lessons and other creative and engaging resources? Try out ELA Unlimited!
ELA Unlimited Members, click the button for instant access to the text structure page. You will be able to get this resource plus text structure assessments, bell ringer, and mini-lesson! 👇
Text Structure Graphic Organizers
You can use these FREE blank graphic organizers to review and practice classifying the parts of each text structure.