×
Grades level iconsGrades 3–5
Session time icon60+ Minutes
Genre information iconNarrative
Video resource type iconVideos

Sense Memories with Caitlin Horrocks

by 826 National
Novelist and short story writer, Caitlin Horrocks, reads "My Full Yard" by Marisol of 826michigan and reflects on the imagery used in the poem.
About the Author

Caitlin 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.

What Your Students Will Learn

You will learn how to use concrete details and sensory language to describe an important place.

Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.D Common Core Standards Icon
Provide a sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.D Common Core Standards Icon
Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.D Common Core Standards Icon
Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
What You Will Do

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...

Login Blurred Image

See more Videos at this level

Grades 3–6
Videos
Honey Bee: Lessons in Fables

by 826 National, featuring Isaac Reynolds, Grade 6

Narrative

What’s the moral of the story? In this lesson, students practice identifying and summarizing a moral in a fable written by a sixth grader.

Grades 3–12
Videos
Book Scavenger Hunt Poetry with Amanda Gorman

by Amanda Gorman

Poetry

Presidential Inaugural Poet, activist, and bestselling author Amanda Gorman shares one of her favorite techniques for starting a poem or getting over writers' block.

Grades 4–5
Videos
Pumpkin Pie!!!: Favorite Food Stories

by 826 National, featuring Naomi Ku, Grade 6, 826LA

Poetry

What is the story of your favorite food? In this lesson, you will use descriptive details and sensory words to write a narrative that shares more about your favorite food.

Grades 1–5
Videos
What Do Feelings Sound Like?

by Molly Sprayregen, 826CHI

Poetry

Writer and 826michigan staffer Denise Ervin writes alongside students to show what feelings sound like.

Grade 5
Videos
Rhyming Words

by 826 National, featuring Raiya Chhabra, Grade 5, VA

Poetry

In this lesson, you will generate rhymes to use in a poem.

Grades 3–5
Videos
Guess Who? Animal Stories

by 826 National, featuring Milo Wu, Grade 2, NY

Poetry

In this lesson, you will introduce an animal you know a lot about as the narrator of a story. The narrator will provide descriptive details ask the reader "Guess who?" at the end.

Grades 4–5
Videos
Writing to Create Change with Nidhi Hebbar

by 826 National

Persuasive

Misinformation Specialist with Google Nidhi Hebbar shares how you can use writing to inspire change and bring people into conversations about the issues you care about.

Grades 4–8
Videos
Inspiration in the Everyday with Charlotte Yeung

by Charlotte Yeung

Fantasy/SciFi
Narrative
Persuasive
Poetry

Midwest Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador, Charlotte Yeung, shares one of her favorite brainstorming strategies for creating a new piece.

Grades 4–6
Videos
Silly Scenes with Sean Thomason

by 826 National

Media
Narrative

In this lesson, you will create a character and show how a character would respond in a specific situation by writing dialogue, resulting in a silly scene.

Grades 2–12, k
Videos
Write. Read. Feel. with Mychal Threets

by Mychal Threets, librarian and literacy ambassador

Memoir
Narrative
Poetry

Librarian and literacy ambassador Mychal Threets invites you to write about your feelings, your way with four writing prompts to explore your emotions on the page.

Grades 3–5
Videos
Birds in Flight: I’m Like a Lion

by 826 National, featuring Iman Abdullah, Grade 2, 826NYC

Poetry

Have you ever thought about what you have in common with an animal? In this lesson, students will write a comparison poem that explores these similarities and differences.

Grades 5–8
Videos
Climactic Cliffhangers with Mac Barnett

by Mac Barnett

Narrative

Mac Barnett, a New York Times-bestselling author of stories for children, illustrates how to end a story...or not.

Grades 4–8
Videos
Interviewing Inanimate Objects with Daniel Handler

by Daniel Handler

Narrative

Author Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, shows there are no limits to imagination with this interviewing activity.

Grades 3–5
Videos
Meaning From Shape (Elementary)

by Cristeta Boarini, 826 MSP

Poetry

Journalist and 826 MSP staffer, Cristeta Boarini, shares a poetry prompt that walks students through using shapes to convey meaning.

Grades 2–12
Videos
Hear Me Out with Javier Zamora

by Javier Zamora, 826 Valenica alumni and New York Times bestselling author

Memoir
Narrative
Persuasive
Poetry

Author Javier Zamora invites you to raise your voice and write to the next President of the United States.

Grades 3–5
Videos
Curiosity Counts with Anne Richardson

by 826 National

Informational
STEM

In this lesson, you will create a simple scrapbook that showcases the facts, definitions, and details you’ve learned about a few of the items you found in a scavenger hunt.

Grades 4–6
Videos
Superhero-O-Matic with Lisa Brown

by 826 National

Fantasy/SciFi
Narrative

Author and illustrator Lisa Brown reads "Owl Girl. In this lesson, you will write a superhero story that introduces your character and establishes the context for your reader.

Grades 3–5
Videos
Fill My Shoes

by Kinyel Friday, 826michigan

Narrative

Children's book author and 826michigan staffer, Kinyel Friday, shares a social emotional learning prompt that uses personification to bring emotions to life.