2003-04 Writing Prompts

th Grade

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K-5 Writing Prompts

Science

Kindergarten

Describe to students in a preschool how wood is used at school or home.
Explain to students in a preschool facts about gold fish.
Explain to a child who doesn’t know about fish or animals how to tell if a fish is an animal.

First Grade

Describe your prediction to other first grade scientists what will happen if plants get no light.
Explain to other first grade scientists how to know if something is a solid or a liquid.
Describe to other first grade scientists what happens to liquids on different surfaces.

Second Grade

In a paragraph, explain to other second grade lepidopterists what you know about a caterpillar’s body and about caterpillar behavior.
In a paragraph, describe to other second grade lepidopterists the life cycle of a butterfly.

Third Grade

In a poem, describe to others your observations of a drop of water.
In a letter, persuade the city’s budget committee whether there would be more evaporation on a wading pool 2m in diameter or 5m in diameter. Your letter should include a reference to surface area and support your choice with details.
In a letter to the President of the United States, persuade him that the effects of acid rain are affecting our buildings and monuments.
In a letter, describe to your friend your injuries and aches and pains in your muscles, bones, and joints, using their scientific names.

Fourth Grade

In several paragraphs, describe to your friends how to make a flashlight. Include materials and steps.
In a newspaper article to other fourth grade botanists, compare how seeds of various fruits are similar or different.
In several paragraphs, explain to other fourth grade zoologists what influences crayfish to establish their territory.

Fifth Grade

In several paragraphs, persuade your boss about the importance of position of the load when the effort is at a constant position.
In a paragraph, explain to other fifth grade bicycle designers what parts of a bicycle are levers.
In several paragraphs, persuade tourists why they should visit the Wenatchee Valley.

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

In a paragraph explain to people in New York why Wenatchee is a good place to grow apples.
In a paragraph explain to first graders why different crops grow in different environments.
In a paragraph describe to tourists what natural resources in the Wenatchee Valley create recreational opportunities.
Tell a friend how your family celebrates your birthday.

Third Grade

In several paragraphs explain to people in England how the cycle of the salmon affects the traditions and customs of coastal and inland Native Americans.
In several paragraphs explain to other third grade sociologists how environment influences cultures.

Fourth Grade

In several paragraphs explain to fourth graders why different climatic regions have different characteristics.
In several paragraphs explain to other fourth graders sociologists how native cultures have historically been disrupted and dominated by exploring groups.
In several paragraphs persuade other fourth graders that laws and rules are necessary to provide safety and keep order.
Explain to your parents how the landforms and/or climate around Wenatchee affect the way people live, work, or play.
In which region of Washington would you most like to live? Using information from the text and the studies we have done, in several paragraphs explain why.
Research an animal native to Washington or the Pacific Northwest. Write a report to answer the following questions: How are animal structures and their environment related? (This prompt combines the science unit on Structures and WA state information).
In several paragraphs, compare and contrast the Coastal Indians with the Plateau Native Americans.
The Lewis & Clark Expedition was one of the most important events in American History. Write a paragraph explaining what the expedition was sent to look for.
The pioneers and settlers who crossed the continent came to Washington for many reasons. Some were looking for land, gold, furs or jobs. What would make you walk 2,000 miles across the continent? In several paragraphs, explain what you would have been looking for if you were a pioneer coming to Washington.

Fifth Grade

In several paragraphs explain to couch potatoes what motivates people to go where no one else has gone.
In several paragraphs persuade invading aliens from another planet why interdependence is necessary for both our societies to survive.
In several paragraphs explain to fifth graders in Africa what ways the colonists and the Native Americans were interdependent.
In several paragraphs explain to other fifth grade historians why revolutions are fought.
In several paragraphs explain to King George I why the colonists must start a revolution.
Compare/Contrast Jamestown and Plymouth Colonies.
Compare/Contrast two Native American groups using information regarding the geography climate and natural resources of the areas they lived and how that impacted their culture and technology.
Extend information by having colonists give advice to would-be colonists or having would-be colonists ask questions of colonists from successful colonies.
You have read the job description of the officers in our colonial simulation. The governor whom your colony will elect will appoint these jobs. Which job would your interests and skills best perform? In one paragraph, explain to your fellow colonists which office you would like to have and why. In a second paragraph, explain how cooperation among your colonists will affect the survival and prosperity of your colony.

Seventh Grade

History is a series of causes and effects that produce change. Cite a historical event cause and its effect on Ancient Greece or a Historical Event Cause on Ancient Greece’s Society.
How did geography and climate influence the development of Ancient Greece’s culture?
Name each of the cultural universals and give two examples of each for Ancient Greece.
Cultures develop and progress through the exchange of ideas, technology, and products; cite examples and how they impacted Ancient Greece and today’s world.
Compare and contrast the roles of men/boys and women/girls in Ancient Sparta and Athens. Then write a persuasive essay attempting to convince a peer to live in one city/state or the other.
Write to someone from 100 years ago describing what life might be like for teenagers today.

Eighth Grade

Eleven Grade