Writing Good Directions Lesson

Teach Clear, Concise Writing Using Details and Description

Mar 22, 2009

Details and description are important in writing directions. Use die-cut shapes to see how well students can write directions.

Writing good directions takes time and effort. Teach students the art of writing directions by using colorful die-cut shapes and a little imagination.

Preparation for Direction Lesson

Choose as many die cut shapes as the school's teacher help room provides. There needs to be shapes in a variety of colors. To figure out the number of shapes needed, each student will need four-to-five shapes to make a design. This number needs to be doubled because a second student will read the set of directions and try to recreate the design. Also, students will need a piece of white copy paper, a ruler and a glue stick.

For the anticipatory set, the teacher will need a loaf of bread, peanut butter, jelly and a butter knife.

Anticipatory Set

Ask students to write how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Give them five minutes to complete the activity. Then, ask a volunteer to make the sandwich from a student's directions.

More than likely, the student's direction will leave out some specific details to make the sandwich, such as "put the two pieces of bread together after the peanut butter and jelly is spread out on the bread" or "pick up a knife and spread the peanut butter." Discuss how the little details can make the directions a success or a failure.

Lesson Steps for Writing Clear Directions

Step 1 – Ask students to choose four-to-five shapes to glue on to a piece of copy paper.

Step 2 – Tell students to glue the shapes onto the paper. The design should be creative.

Step 3 – Once the design is complete, students need to write directions so that another student can recreate the design. The description and details are the key to writing good directions.

Step 4 – When the directions are complete, trade one group of students' directions with another, i.e. trade first period's class with third period's class.

Step 5 – Each student should create a design using the directions. The students should use a ruler if the directions call for it. Once all of the die-cut shapes are placed using the directions, they should be glued down on the paper.

Step 6 – Return the new design to the direction writer. The student should compare his or her original to the one that another student made. The student should write a reflection, assessing how well the directions were written.

Students can directly see how directions with good detail and description can direct others to do what they want. Using die-cut shapes to teach this adds to the fun.

The copyright of the article Writing Good Directions Lesson in Middle School Lesson Plans is owned by Kellie Hayden. Permission to republish Writing Good Directions Lesson in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.