×
Grades level iconsGrades 3–5
Session time icon2-3 Sessions, 60 Minutes Each
Genre information iconPersuasive
Resource type iconLessons

Make a Change: Formal and Informal Campaigns

Author image
Rebecca Glaser, 826 Digital Educator Leader
Students will use formal and informal writing to take on an issue in their community and convince others to take action.
What Your Students Will Learn

Write about an issue in your community to convince others that this issue is important and that they should join you in acting on it.
1. Use informal writing to convince your friends, peers, or family that it’s important, and what they can do about it.
2. Use formal writing to convince the government that this is an important issue, and what they can do about it.

Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1 Common Core Standards Icon
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1 Common Core Standards Icon
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1 Common Core Standards Icon
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
What Your Students Will Produce

Students will produce informal and formal pieces of persuasive writing.

Login Blurred Image

See More Resources from Educator Leaders

Grades 5–6
Lessons
Fantasy Sports: Designing Games That You (or Elves or Dragons) Want to Play

by AT Bianchi & Kati Shanks, 826michigan

Fantasy/SciFi
Narrative
STEM

In this lesson, students imagine a fictional sport for fantastic beings, create a statistic for that sport, and write a newspaper article about the championship game.

Grades 5–6
Lessons
A Superpowered Comics Lesson

by Ashlyn Anstee, 826LA

Fantasy/SciFi
Media
Narrative

Using the classic battle between superheroes and villains as inspiration, students will create their own twist on a superhero comic, featuring believable characters and Marvel-worthy dialogue.

Grades 5–6
Lessons
Whining Effectively; Or, How to Persuade Your Parents

by Abigail Jacobs & Taylor Jacobson, 826 Valencia & 826LA

Persuasive

This lesson teaches students to write proposals so convincing no parent can resist them.

Grades 4–10
Lessons
Comedy Writing Inspired by Monty Python

by Gem Carmella, Ministry of Stories and BBC History

Media

In this Lesson, students will learn how to write comedy sketches inspired by "Monty Python’s Flying Circus."

Grades 5–6
Lessons
Rules, Rules, Rules

by Mindy Misener, 826michigan

Poetry

Students learn how poetry can “break the rules” then practice breaking the “rules” in their own poems by challenging the expectations, assumptions, and principles their work set up.

Grades 3–5
Lessons
Include Someone, Make a Difference
by Cartoon Network

by 826 National and Cartoon Network

Media
Narrative

This lesson encourages students to consider and write about the myriad ways to include someone, stop bullying before it starts, and make a difference.

Grades 5–6
Lessons
Trading Lives: Be a Superhero (or a Wizard or a Vampire) for a Day

by Kim Adelman, 826LA

Fantasy/SciFi
Media
Narrative

In this lesson, students imagine trading lives with a fictional character for a day and write about the fantastic possibilities that would ensue.

Grades 1–5
Lessons
Write for Inclusion Publishing Kit
by Cartoon Network

by 826 National and Cartoon Network

Narrative
Poetry

Students write two stories focused on the power of inclusion with this downloadable, printable, DIY publishing kit.

Grades 5–6
Lessons
Your Intergalactic National Park

by Jayne Kennedy, 826LA

Fantasy/SciFi
Informational
Narrative

Gather students around the metaphorical campfire to craft a brochure for a Nature Preserve on another planet, complete with wild critters, plant life, unique geological formations, and park history

Grades 5–8
Lessons
Ekphrastic Poetry

by Jillian Wasick, 826 Valencia

Poetry

Students write ekphrastic poems, exploring and creating connections between text and image.

Grades 3–5
Lessons
Veggie Stories

By Jillian Wasick, 826 Valencia

Fantasy/SciFi
Narrative

In this lesson, students write vegetable-inspired superhero stories.

Grades 5–8
Lessons
Animal Poems

by Ellen Lathrop and Malia Urbina, 826 Valencia

Poetry

In this lesson, students will use descriptive language to write a poem about a favorite animal.

Grades 4–8
Lessons
Metaphoraging

by Bryan Wilson, Educator Leader, The Bureau of Fearless Ideas

Poetry

What do you get when you mix foraging with metaphors? Metaphoraging, of course! In this interactive lesson, students will forage their learning space for metaphors.

Grades 5–6
Lessons
Build Your Own Treasure Hunt

by Neil Gordon, 826LA

Informational

Using precise, clear instructions, each student will create a treasure hunt document that provides clues for finding a treasure hidden in a location of their choosing.

Grades 1–8, k
Lessons
Big Book of IFs

by 826 National, in partnership with Paramount Pictures

Fantasy/SciFi
Narrative

Imaginary friends come in all shapes and sizes! Inspired by the new Paramount Pictures movie, IF, students will create their own imaginary friend to take with them on their next adventure.

Grades 3–9
Lessons
Beyond the Page: Writing Graphic Novels

by Klariza Alvaran, 826CHI

Media
Narrative

In this lesson, students explore the graphic novel genre with a focus on plot and character development, scripting dialogue, and visual composition.

Grades 3–6
Lessons
Take a Stand: Anti-Bullying Skits
by Cartoon Network

by Jessica Barbaria, 826NYC

Informational

In this lesson, students dive into the many forms bullying can take, create scripts and role-play bullying scenarios, and reflect on their own experiences with bullying.

Grades 1–3
Lessons
Kindness Counts
by Cartoon Network

by Nicolien Buholzer, 826LA

Informational

Why does kindness count? In this lesson, students will consider acts of kindness they’ve experienced or witnessed and reflect on the difference that kindness makes in the world.

Grades 3–5
Lessons
Stand Up with a Story: Anti-Bullying Strategies
by Cartoon Network

by Nicolien Buholzer, 826LA

Narrative

Students team up to write collaborative short stories about a character who stands up to a bully and discover how they can help end bullying.

Grades 1–5
Lessons
If Poems

by 826 New Orleans

Poetry

Students will imagine what they would do if they were someone or something else.

Grades 3–5
Lessons
New Holiday

by Ashley Smith, 826 Valencia

Narrative

In this lesson, students will explore different holidays people celebrate around the world and then create a new holiday of their own.

Grades 3–5
Lessons
Personification Poetry

by Nesley Rojo, 826 Valencia

Poetry

Students will practice identifying personification and then use sensory detail and figurative language to express it in their writing.

Grades 1–5
Lessons
From a Friend
by Cartoon Network

by Nicolien Buholzer, 826LA

Narrative

In this lesson, students write letters to someone special and reflect on the impact of being kind towards others.

Grades 4–8
Lessons
King Cake Pourquoi Tales

by Kyley Pulphus, 826 New Orleans

Narrative

In this workshop, students will create a pourquoi tale, or origin story, of how a local delicacy came to be.

Grades 3–5
Lessons
All About Me Zines

by Emily Lam, 826 Valencia

Narrative

In this lesson, students will go through the steps in the writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, publishing) to produce a zine that highlights what makes them special.

Grades 3–5
Lessons
Field Journals

by Kendra Lappin, 826 Valencia

Informational
STEM

Students will become naturalists for the day by performing field observations and recording their thoughts in a field journal.

Grades 5–6
Lessons
How to Write a How-To

by Jory John, 826 Valencia

Informational

Students will explore the essentials of an effective “how-to” piece, while considering their own areas of interest and expertise to share with their peers and the world at large.

Grades 3–6
Lessons
Odes to Ordinary Objects

by Ashley Smith, 826 Valencia

Poetry

Students find gratitude all around as they thank ordinary objects in their lives in the form of an ode.

Grades 3–6
Lessons
Doors to the Future

by Dr. Bunny McFadden, 826 Valencia

Fantasy/SciFi
Narrative

Imagination opens doors to new possibilities. This lesson allows students to exercise their imaginations by describing an imaginary door to the future and picturing what is beyond it.

Grades 3–5
Lessons
Welcome to Where You Are

by Emilia Rivera and Ashley Smith, 826 Valencia

Informational
Persuasive

Students will report about their favorite neighborhood places and write a review about the most special one.

Grades 1–5
Lessons
Me…a Villain?
by Cartoon Network

by Nicolien Buholzer, 826LA

Fantasy/SciFi
Narrative

In this lesson, students consider the perspective of a villain they love to hate. They will create a compelling backstory for the character and write short stories from the villain’s point of view.

Grades 3–5
Lessons
Playing with Words: Idioms

by Kathy Seipp, 826 Digital Educator Leader

Narrative

In this lesson, students will illustrate the literal and figurative meaning of idioms and write using idioms.

Grades 1–6
Lessons
Heroes In the Community

by Rebecca Escoto and Cynthia Aguilar, 826LA

Informational
Narrative

Students will identify the characteristics of a hero, familiarize themselves with heroes in their own community, and write an explanatory piece identifying a hero in their community.

Grades 5–9
Lessons
Write for the Flood City Gazette!
by New Leaf Literary & Media

by Daniel José Older, author of Flood City.

Informational
Media

Students will work together to produce a newspaper for the fictional Flood City. In the process, they will take on the roles of editor and journalist to source, draft, and present their newspaper.

Grades 5–8
Lessons
The Science of Superpowers

by Mariama J. Lockington & Peter Calhoun Hall, 826NYC

Fantasy/SciFi
Informational
Poetry
STEM

In this superlesson, students isolate DNA, design planes, build lairs, and engineer safe transport to help a hero save the day. Students will also take technical notes and explore new forms of poetry.

Grades 4–6
Lessons
Miracle Elixir: Inventing Potions to Cure Baldness and Other Things the World Needs Right Now

by Paris Hyun, 826LA

Informational
Persuasive

Students play the role of benevolent inventor. They identify and think critically about real world problems, and create an ingredients list and usage instructions for an elixir that fixes the problem.

Grades 5–6
Lessons
Amazing Stories

by Nathalie Lagerfeld & Jill Carey, 826CHI

Fantasy/SciFi
Media
Narrative

Borrowing inspiration from out-of-this-world illustrations, students will create an amazing sci-fi story with a fantastical setting, realistic characters, and page-turning plot.

Grades 5–6
Lessons
Working Superheroes

by Jane Roschen, 826LA

Fantasy/SciFi
Informational
Media
Narrative

This lesson prompts students to explore the exciting range of things they can do when they grow up and highlights the importance of education, curiosity, and role models.

Grades 5–6
Lessons
Inspired by Under Milk Wood

by Miriam Nash, Ministry of Stories and BBC History

Narrative
Poetry

In this lesson, students will emulate Dylan Thomas’ famous drama, Under Milk Wood. Students will create imaginative works of fiction that examine their neighborhood in order to bring it to life.

Grades 5–6
Lessons
Misunderstood Monsters

by Lindsay Ringwald, 826LA

Fantasy/SciFi
Narrative

In this lesson, students will imagine a narrative in the form of a craigslist advertisement to showcase a typically scary monster as a down to earth creature.

Grades 3–5
Lessons
Endangered Perspectives

by Ellen Fee, 826 MSP

Narrative
Poetry
STEM

Students will learn about endangered species, how animals become endangered, and then write either a poem or a story about a day-in-the-life about an endangered animal of their choosing.

Grades 4–12
Lessons
Essential Words: Letters of Gratitude to Essential Workers

by Cristeta Boarini, 826MSP, and Skylar Burkhardt, 826 National

Informational
Narrative
Persuasive

Few expressions of gratitude are more meaningful than a personalized letter. In this lesson, students reach out to essential workers and return their acts of service and kindness by giving thanks.