Teaching children to write is an essential skill. Using a variety of strategies to show children how to improve their writing is also important. In this post I share my favorite, and most effective leveled writing activity that I have used in my classroom with countless children over the years.
The activity is generic and can be used to improve any writing assignment. It can even be used to simply show children how to improve their everyday writing. It is a great visual representation of how to improve their work.
Once children have established their ability to write several sentences and ideas, it is time to share what they can do to make their writing better.
Children often receive grades and evaluations for their work. They get a mark and often some comments. Help children, with a visual, understand what more they can be doing to virtually all of their work to improve their writing and in turn their grades.
A simple lesson, using cupcakes, can transform children’s writing as they learn the difference between level 4, or mark with an A grade.
This lesson is tasty, engaging and effective.
Leveled Writing Activity Materials
This lesson turns into a tasty treat when you’re done, so there is no waste. For this leveled writing activity, you will need:
- Plain Cupcakes (At least 4)
- Icing
- Sprinkles, Chocolate, Candles etc.
When doing the activity you can choose to either allow each child to decorate their own cupcake, or you can just use four cupcakes for examples. If you are going to share the cupcakes with children after the lesson, then you will need one for each child.
Once you do the activity with your children, you can print and post the FREE printable of the cupcake levels. A copy of the printable is shown below. This is a great reminder and visual for children what each level looks like.
This activity is described below as an activity to improve children’s writing, however, the idea of the cupcake can be used for any subject area. The activity is ideal to show children that the more detail, thought and care they put into their work the more successful they will be.
Leveled Writing Activity – Level 1
Start by showing children a cupcake. Plain and simple. No icing, no sprinkles and less then what we would usually consider a cupcake.
This cupcake represents work that is less then what is asked. It does not include everything that was supposed to be done. It is a level one (or a grade of D).
Avoid using actual student work for this example. A really simple example for a level 1 piece of work could be, when asked “What is your favorite animal and why?” a level one answer could be. “A Cat.”
Please note the examples are a very basic idea. They don’t show the difference spelling and other writing skills can have on the level. Give your children an example based on your focus for the lesson and what you most want your children to focus and improve on in their writing.
Leveled Writing Activity – Level 2
The level two (grade C) cupcake looks better. It has icing and looks more like a cupcake. This level includes some of what was asked and more details or writing than the previous cupcake, however, it still doesn’t include everything that is expected and no extra effort has been icluded.
A level 2 answer to “What is your favorite animal and why?”, “My favorite animal is a tabby cat.”
Learn to Write – Level 3
The next cupcake, level 3 (B grade) looks like a great cupcake. It has icing, sprinkles and even some small candies. This cupcake includes everything we would expect from a cupcake.
Just like when writing, this cupcake follows the instructions and includes details. This cupcake meets the expectations and is what is expected. It is a well written piece of work, or a well made cupcake.
Children can see that when they do what is asked and expected it creates something good and their mark will reflect that.
A level 3 answer to “What is your favorite animal and why? My favorite animal is a tabby cat because they are beautiful and have pretty markings on their fur.”
Leveled Writing Activity – Level 4
Finally, our level 4 cupcake includes everything the level 3 cupcake does and then even more! It includes everything you would expect from a cupcake as well as some extras.
This cupcake includes the icing, sprinkles, candies, chocolate, candle and it looks like more than you’d expect from a cupcake.
Similar to written work, this cupcake includes extra details and goes above an beyond what was expected of the writer for the project.
Children begin to see that the more time, detail and effort they put into their writing the better their mark will be. When they take their time with these details they will also begin to see their work improve.
A level 3 answer to “What is your favorite animal and why? My favorite animal is a tabby cat because they are beautiful and have pretty markings on their fur. I also love cats because I have two cats at home. One is a tabby cat named Lily and their other is a Siamese cat named Oreo.”
This answer explains why the writer likes cats best. It gives a reason and personal connection. More experienced writers will need to include even more details, but the cupcakes make it clear what more a level 1 piece has then level 4.
Extension Resources
I hope that the cupcake lesson is well received in your classroom, or home. Each time I do the activity I notice an immediate improvement in my students writing. The lessons helps them understand that their work reflects their efforts.
For more detailed and printable examples, check out “Teach Writing with Leveled Examples” from Hands-On Teaching Ideas. Give solid, printable examples of children’s work
This resource also works well to have children read through writing examples and children choose which level they would give it and why.
Download Free Resources
Join Play Learn Inspire and download the Free printable leveled writing activity images. They are great to post in a classroom or any learning space for a visual representation, and reminder, of the activity and how to make their writing letter.
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