Unit Plan: Journal Writing from a Graphic Timeline

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Start the year with an activity that promotes self-expression and reflection. The Graphic Timeline is a creative way to show who you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going. After completing the timeline, the entries are used to prompt journal writing.

OBJECTIVE
Students Will:

1. Utilize brainstorming techniques in a writing exercise.
2. Analyze important events in sequential order.
3. Create a graphic timeline organizer.
4. Set personal goals for the school year.
5. Develop an understanding of journal style writing.
6. Explore self-expression through journal writing.

LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: Who Am I?
Lesson 2: Graphic Timeline
Lesson 3: Beginning Your Journal

REPRODUCIBLES
Who Am I? (PDF)
Timeline Organizer (PDF)

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

Students take their completed graphic timelines home and allow family members to make additions to the project. Create a time capsule in class to store the timeline for future use. Capsules can be made from decorated paper towel rolls or folders.

SUPPORTING BOOKS

Books to Teach and Motivate Journal Writing

ARTICLE	Activity Plan 5-6: Mapping Our Histories Children will develop language, literacy, social studies, and math concepts as they learn about the different places their families came from in this ready-to-use teaching idea for five- and six-year olds. Activity: Social/Emotional.
LESSON PLAN	Who Am I? Offers teachers a lesson plan for getting students to think about their identity and their goals through brain storming and journal writing....
ONLINE ACTIVITY	Home | Write It Write It is the premiere site for kids' and teens' writing instruction and online publishing. In genres like poetry, essays, short fiction,...
BOOK INFORMATION	Dear Mr. Henshaw In letters to his favorite author, a ten-year-old boy reveals his problems in coping with his parents' divorce, being the new boy in school, and generally finding his own place in the world.