Three Types of Rocks Informative Writing Prompt with three Passages/Articles

With this resource, students must use information from three different passages to write an informative essay that explains the three different types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Many extras are included to help you along the way. If your students have to take a standardized writing test where the writing prompt includes passages/articles, then this product is a must-have!

*Please note that this writing prompt is just part of my YEAR LONG BUNDLE. The yearlong bundle includes 5 opinion writing prompts, 5 informative writing prompts (including this one), and a career research project.

Nowadays, there is a noticeable difference in how students are expected to write their essays on the standardized writing test. Many standardized tests, such as RISE in Utah (formerly SAGE), PARCC in New Jersey, and FSA in Florida, require the students to read/listen to multiple texts and then use information from those passages/articles in their writing.

According to the RISE rubric, students are expected to write essays that are well-organized (this includes writing strong introductions and conclusions), smoothly incorporate & cite text evidence, elaborate on their details (this includes using domain-specific vocabulary), and use proper grammar/spelling. This product provides many resources to help you do just that!

To prepare my students for the state test, I don’t hesitate to get them started. From the very beginning, my students are given writing prompts with passages. We practice annotating the text and then we practice using that information to write a well-organized, 5-paragraph essay. Writing these essays take a long time to write, especially at the beginning of the year. It typically takes me three weeks to get through one writing prompt with the students. This product includes both a prompt and passages (mentor texts) that are great for getting the students started.

THE PROMPT

Every single rock on Earth can be categorized into one of three categories: igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic. Write an essay that explains each type of rock. Your explanation must be based on ideas and information that can be found in the passages. Manage your time carefully so your can plan, write, revise, and edit your essay.

THE PASSAGES/ARTICLES

This resource comes with three unique passages/articles written by me. Each passage explains one of the three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

Passage #1: The first passage explains how igneous rocks are formed. It also explains that there are two types of igneous rocks: intrusive and extrusive. It gives examples of specific igneous rocks such as granite, pumice, and obsidian. And it explains what characteristics igneous rocks may have.

Passage #2: The second passage explains how sedimentary rocks form by first explaining what sediments are. This passage explains that conglomerate, shale, limestone, and sandstone are all sedimentary rocks. It explains how they are formed and what their uses are. It even briefly explains that extracting shale oil is controversial.

Passage #3: The third passage explains how metamorphic rocks are formed. It explains what their characteristics are and what their uses are. For example, slate is used for roofing, gravestones, and even pool tables.

In each passage, the paragraphs are numbered and there's a glossary at the end. (Just like the RISE test in Utah)

Each passage contains many photographs and pictures to help the students with engagement and comprehension. However, if you want to save on ink and paper, the passages are available without all the pictures/photographs.

THE EXTRAS

This product has quite a few extras! If you buy this product, you will not only be getting a prompt and two mentor texts, but you will also be getting the following: (please click the preview, where I have posted EVERY SINGLE PAGE of this product):

•Day-to-day instructions that explain what I do with the students for 14 days

•4 different rubrics to choose from (I’ve taken information from the SAGE rubric and turned it into one that is more student-friendly and teacher-friendly.)

•Brief descriptions of each rubric so that you can know which one you want to use.

•A schedule that outlines what the students will be doing for the next 3 weeks (the rubric and schedule are things I show the students before we begin writing our essays so they know what is expected of them, how long it will take, and how to be successful.)

•A checklist that the students can use while they write their essays to make sure they are including everything that their essay needs

•Two different graphic organizers/outlines to choose from (one is completely blank, while the other one has fill in the blanks to help those who struggle with writing)

•Alternative graphic organizers/outlines that are decorative (they write their topics inside pictures of rocks)

•Many different types of rough draft paper that you can choose from. (My favorite rough draft paper is the one that has ARMS at the bottom. Many teachers like to use the acronym ARMS when revising with their students.)

•An ARMS handout

•Peer Editing Sheets (I love using these! Instead of having students write all over each others’ papers with red pens, they look for certain criteria, fill out the form, and give feedback)

•A sample graphic organizer that has been filled in by me

•A sample final draft that meets all the requirements to get a really good score on the RISE test (written by me)

•Decorative lined paper that the students can write their final drafts on

•Decorative title pages (the students can use these as a cover for their final drafts.)

•A note that can be sent home to parents to announce the completion of their essays and the sharing party that will take place in class

THE RESULTS

At the end of previous school years, many of my students expressed phrases such as, “Mrs. Lott, thank you for teaching me how to write an essay,” “I like writing now,” “I finally get how to write an essay,” and “I’m not as worried to take the test because I know what I’m doing.” These comments, of course, brought tears to my eyes. I love helping my students become confident writers. Then seeing their end-of-year test scores brought even more tears to my eyes. All students improved and almost all scored between 400-500, which is proficient. I even had several students score over 500!! :)

Please note that this product does not teach students how to write an essay. The intent of this product is to provide an outline and description of what I do for 3 weeks and the resources I use to do it. If you are interested in how I teach my students how to write, follow me on TpT and stay tuned. It is my goal to eventually make writing curriculum that covers every single writing standard for grades 3rd-5th, which is what my 3rd-5th grade writing MEGA BUNDLE will eventually become.

THE STANDARDS

This product is aligned with the following 3rd grade writing standards:

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.3.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.3.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.3.5 With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as need by planning, revising, and editing.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.3.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.3.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision.) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

This product is aligned with the following 4th grade writing standards:

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.4.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.4.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.4.5 With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as need by planning, revising, and editing.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.4.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.4.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision.) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.4 Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.10 By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, in the grades 4-5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

This product is aligned with the following 5th grade writing standards:

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.5.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.5.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.5.5 With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as need by planning, revising, and editing.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.5.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

CCSS.ELA-LIT.W.5.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision.) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

You might also be interested in the following writing prompts:

Cats or Dogs Opinion Writing Prompt

Are Teens too old to go Trick-or-Treating Opinion Writing Prompt

Explain how Caribou Survive the Cold Weather Informative Writing Prompt

You might also be interested in the following science products:

A HUGE Rocks and Minerals Unit. It is a complete unit that has everything you would need to teach 3 weeks-worth of material.

Cloud Readers’ Theater. I love using these script every time I teach weather! They help the students remember how a cloud is formed and the four main types of clouds (cirrus, cumulus, stratus, and cumulonimbus.)

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