This sweet dreams writing lesson can be taught anytime of the year using any candy or a sweet treat.

Holidays with Candy

I taught it for the first time the week after Halloween.  My kids had way too much candy and I was about to teach my last after school writing class for the session.  So, I dug through their Halloween buckets and took out all the Twizzlers, Sour Patch Kids and Skittles.  My after school writers wrote Sweet Dreams using those candies.

Christmas

For the website though, I decided to focus on Christmas and post the lesson using CANDY CANES!

You don’t need candy canes to conduct this lesson.  The simple candy cane art accent is usually motivation enough to get your  kids to write.  BUT, having the candy on hand is festive and rewards your writers for their hard work.  It’s up to you and your resources!

Common Core State Standards

NOTE: This lesson can address the following Common Core State Standards:  CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.3, W.1.3, W.2.3, W.3.3, W.3.3.B, W.3.3.C, W.3.3.D, W.4.3, W4.3.A, W.4.3.B, W.4.3.C, W.4.3.D, W.4.3.E, W.5.3, W.5.3.A, W.5.3.B, W.5.3.C, W.5.3.D and W.5.3.E.

NOW FOR THE LESSON!

To get a full understanding on how I conduct each writing lesson you may want to read the Writing Prompts Introduction post.  The lesson outlined below (and all other prompts posted) will make more sense and be easier to follow and use.  Here’s the lined paper I use for Grades K-2 and Grades 2-7

Sweet Dreams

Start off by telling your students the title of the lesson, SWEET DREAMS.

Recall Your Own Dreams

Have your students tell a dream that they remember to you or a classmate.

Tell the Story Line

Tell the story line:  You’re going to write a dream that has candy canes in it.  Anything can happen in your dream!  You just have to incorporate candy canes in some way.

Brainstorm

Brainstorm characteristics of dreams.  Write the responses on the board.

1. Familiar place that is different
2. Famous people
3. Trying to do something but can’t (see, hear, shout…)
4. Flying
5. etc.

Show the 5 Sections

Introduction and Place

Actions

Problem

Attempt

Ending

As mentioned in my writing prompts introduction:  K-1^st Graders are encouraged to write 1 sentence for each section, 2^nd Graders 2 sentences, 3^rd Graders 3 sentences and so on.

NOW TO WRITE!

Guide the students through the following steps.  They are free to use the suggestions or write their own words.

1. Introduction: Last night, I had the _____est dream.  (strangest, best, scariest, craziest, silliest, funniest…)
2. Describe the place. I was in/at…
3. Describe your actions. I was…
4. Show the problem. All of a sudden…
5. Show your attempt. I tried to…..but….
6. Ending Just as I was about to….I woke up.

Print the Lesson

Here’s the full lesson for you to print out and use.

EASY ART ACCENTS

Once you’re students are finished writing, they can use any one of the candy cane art accents.

Student Samples

My 6 and 5 year old boys completed this lesson.  Here’s their work.

GAMES TO PLAY!

Correct the Paragraph

Spin a Punctuation!:  (Writing Game #4)

Candy A to Z

Science and Slime

Take this lesson a step further and incorporate candy cane slime and science ideas.  I’ve found the author of Little Bins for Little Hands to be the master of all things science, slime and simple and highly recommend her site.