Grades 3–5
60+ Minutes
Narrative
VideosCaitlin Horrocks is the author of two short story collections, Life Among the Terranauts and This Is Not Your City, and her novel The Vexations was named one of the Ten Best Books of 2019 by The Wall Street Journal. Additionally, her work has been featured in The New Yorker, The Best American Short Stories, The Pushcart Prize, The Paris Review, among many others. Horrocks teaches creative writing at Grand Valley State University, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
You will learn how to use concrete details and sensory language to describe an important place.
STEP 1
Watch the video and read the mentor text, on page 1 of the Sense Memories – Handout. After you watch the video, answer these questions in your writing journal: “What are the 5 senses? Why is it important to add sensory details into a personal narrative?” Then, underline at least 5 examples of sensory language found in the Mentor Text. (Hint: Find action words that match the 5 senses.)
STEP 2
Now, pick a place that you love and know well. Draw a detailed picture of this place on page 2 of the handout. On the bottom of the page, write about why this place is important to you.
STEP 3
Next, you will describe your place using concrete details and sensory language. Follow the directions on page 3 to complete this step.
STEP 4
On page 4, draw a detailed...
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