Kindergarten Informative/ Explanatory Writing Prompt Task directions
Water Conservation
What can you do to save water?
Optional Introduction:
Watch the short video on water conservation on YouTube:
The Adventures of EcoRilla Episode 1 - EcoWater Canada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ex1ZuKFw64
Discuss this question briefly with your class: Why is it important to save water?
The Prompt:
Use puppets or recruit some older students to perform the Reader’s Theatre: Water
Wise - All About Water Conservation.
After listening to the Reader's Theatre, lead a short class discussion on the question:
"What can you do to save water?" Use the discussion to build a basic understanding of at
least a few of the ways the students could save water.
Pose the focusing question again and give the following directions:
1. "What can you do to save water? Turn and talk to a partner about what you could
do.” Allow about 3 minutes for students to discuss their choices.
2. “Now use this paper to draw a picture of some things you could do to save water.
I will help you write words under your picture to tell more about your choices.”
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
Kindergarten Informative/ Explanatory Writing Prompt Task directions
Additional Instructions/Clarifications
Paper may be lined or unlined. Use your typical classroom writing process to support
students in completing the writing prompt. The piece should represent first draft writing
(done in a single sitting).
The response should include a picture and whatever sentences, words, or letters the child
can add. An adult may assist with sounding out or spelling words and/or transcribe the
child's words if desired. Dictation is permitted.
Please distinguish the child's independent production from words or letters produced
with adult help by underlining any part of the writing done with teacher support. The
writing sample will be most useful to other teachers if it is easy to tell where help was
given.
We understand that, especially in the fall, most Kindergartners have had limited
experience with writing.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
Kindergarten Informative/ Explanatory Writing Prompt Task directions
Water Wise
All About Water Conservation
A Super Science Script
Written and Developed by Lisa Blau
Water Expert #1 - Good morning! We are here to tell you all about the earth's
most precious resource...
All - WATER!
Water Expert #2 - Every form of life needs water in order to live.
Water Expert #4 - A tiny fish needs water...
Water Expert #5 - A tall tree needs water...
Water Expert #3 - Everyone needs...
All - WATER!
Water Expert #2 - People need water to drink because our bodies need water
to stay healthy.
Water Expert #3 - We also need water to make the crops grow so that we have
food to eat.
Water Expert #4 - People use water for taking baths, brushing their teeth, and
washing their clothes.
Water Expert #1 - Yes, everyone needs water.
Water Expert #2 - We know that water is precious so we must find ways to
save all the water that we can.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
Kindergarten Informative/ Explanatory Writing Prompt Task directions
Water Expert #3 - Now, you might be thinking...
Water Expert #5 - But, I'm just a kid. What can I do to save water?
Water Expert #4 - Well, we're here to tell you...
All - PLENTY!
Water Expert #1 - If you turn off the running water when you brush your
teeth...
All - You can save 35 gallons of water in one week!
Water Expert #3 - If you take a shorter shower...
All - You can save 75 gallons of water in one week!
Water Expert #3 - You can help Mom or Dad fix leaky faucets and put water
savers in your toilets.
Water Expert #5 - A plastic bottle filled with pebbles will do the job!
Water Expert #4 - Never play in sprinklers if your town is having a water
shortage.
Water Expert #1 - Sure, it's tons of fun...
Water Expert #2 - You will use over 10 gallons of water in only one minute!
Water Expert #3 - By trying some of these tricks, you and your family can help
save lots of water.
Water Expert #4 - Water is precious. What can you do to help save water?
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
Kindergarten Informative/ Explanatory Writing Prompt Task directions
Water Expert #1 - Make sure that the faucet is turned off all the way. Don't
leave it dripping...
Water Expert #2 - Every drop counts you know!
Water Expert #3 - Don't use more water than you really need. You really don't
need to fill your bathtub up all the way when you take a bath.
Water Expert #4 - You should use a broom...not the hose, to clean a driveway or
sidewalk.
Water Expert #5 - And how many of you like to help out by washing the car?
Well, be sure to save water when you wash the car.
Water Expert #2 - It's easy...just use a bucket to wash the car, and only use
the hose to rinse it off.
All - We hope that you will be water wise and save lots of water. We
know you can do it!
Water Expert #1 - The End.
From Super Science, by Lisa Blau
Publisher: Bellevue, WA: One from the Heart Educational Resources, c1994
Used by permission of Lisa Blau
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File Name: IKFP Water
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten, Fall
On-Demand Writing, Uniform Prompt
Water
I WOT US AS WODR MUC WODR Names what he/she is
writing about
In this Kindergarten piece, written in the fall, the student uses a combination of
drawing and writing to inform the reader about a topic explored through a Reader’s
Theatre presentation and a short video. The topic of the student piece (“I WOT US AS
WODR MUC WODR” is stated in writing. The repeated word (“WODR”) is not an
unusual error at this grade level and could be revised if the piece went through the
full writing process. The drawing that accompanies the original text supplies
detailed information on how to save water. The illustrations show the student saving
water in many ways, such as taking shorter showers and saving excess water for pets
and plants. Kindergarteners may use phonetic spelling, drawing, and dictation to
express their thoughts in writing. This student’s piece clearly draws on the sources
provided to inform the reader about the topic. This developmentally appropriate
“combination writing” provides a valuable foundation for the thought process that
underlies this text type and can be built upon in later years.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File Name: IKFP Water
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten, Fall
Revised and Edited for Student Use
Water
I won’t use as much water.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File Name: IKFP Water
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten, Fall
On Demand Writing- Uniform Prompt
Water
I WOT US AS WODR MUC WODR
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File Name: IKSP Saving Water
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten, Spring
On-Demand Writing, Uniform Prompt
Saving Water
Although this piece would have been stronger had
What can you do to save water? the student named the topic herself, the question
posed clearly introduces the topic.
I am taking a baf Not all faLL.
I amsHuting off the wotr Supplies some information
about the topic
I am filing the bucit up Not too Hiy
In this Kindergarten piece, written in the spring, the topic (What can you do to save
water?) is made clear by the question the teacher has posed, and the student uses words
and pictures to supply some information about the topic. Although the information is
personalized (“I am...”), the student has clearly drawn three specific details from the
sources provided to inform the reader about how she will save water. Both words and
illustrations show a solid understanding of the content presented.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File Name: IKSP Saving Water
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten, Spring
Revised and Edited for Student Use
Saving Water
What can you do to save water?
I am taking a bath. It is not all full.
I am shutting off the water.
I am filling the bucket up, not too high.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File Name: IKSP Saving Water
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten, Spring
On-Demand Writing, Uniform Prompt
Saving Water
What can you do to save water?
I am taking a baf Not all faLL.
I amsHuting off the wotr
I am filing the bucit up Not too Hiy
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File name: IKR Boats
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten
Range of Writing
bots bui
Names the topic he is
Boats by writing about
Bob
bots Flot n wdrt sbmurens Go ndr wdrt Supplies some
information about
the topic
In this Kindergarten informative/explanatory piece, the writer names a general topic (boats)
and supplies two pieces of information about the topic. Kindergarteners may use a
combination of drawing, dictating, and writing in their pieces. In the original version of this
student’s text, a drawing accompanies each piece of information and adds additional detail to
the writing.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File name: IKR Boats
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten
Revised and Edited for Student Use
Boats
by Bob
Boats float in water. Submarines go underwater.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File name: IKR Boats
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten
Range of Writing
bots bui
Bob
bots Flot n wdrt sbmurens Go ndr wdrt
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File name: IKR Plants
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten
Range of Writing
Plants
What do plants need to sprout and grow healthy?* Names what he/she is writing about
Plas need wotr To gou
Supplies some information about the topic
Plas need sun To gou
*question provided by the teacher
In this Kindergarten informative/explanatory piece, the student uses a combination of
drawing and writing to answer a question that focused the class’ science unit on plants:
What do plants need to sprout and grow healthy?. The student provides two pieces of
information learned in class (“Plas need wotr To gou” and “Plas need sun To gou”),
adding detail in the picture that accompanies the text.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File name: IKR Plants
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten
Revised and Edited for Student Use
Plants
What do plants need to sprout and grow healthy?*
Plants need water to grow.
Plants need sun to grow.
* provided by teacher
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
File name: IKR Plants
Informative/Explanatory
Kindergarten
Range of Writing
Plants
What do plants need to sprout and grow healthy?*
Plas need wotr To gou
Plas need sun To gou
* provided by teacher
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
Adapted from Student Achievement Partners: retrieved from www.achievethecore.org.
