I start off my writing workshop by setting the stage. Decorating the tables and setting all of the materials out is part of the fun. I started with the beach backdrop. This is great for bulletin boards and works even better as a fun tablecloth! I just cut what I needed to cover the tables. I then added some round fringe placemats down the center of the tables for beachy flair. Each table contained all the materials needed for each activity. Towards the back of the room I set up an extra supply table for students to return unneeded supplies or grab extras. 
The goal for this writing workshop was to give my students the tools they need in order to create their own beach-themed narrative story. So dive in with us and check out our first activity! Activity 1: Shark verb attack 
We warmed up with a partner reading activity I like to call Q & A. I found some fun shark books to use for this activity. Students partnered up and took turns reading pages from the book. One person rolled the question dice and then formed a question. The other person answered using text evidence from the story. My students loved this activity! It's a great way to get them engaged and talking at their tables. 
After reading, begin a group discussion on sharks and ask questions like "What are some things sharks do?" This lends us into our first grammar skill; identifying what a verb is and some examples of verbs you might use while at the beach. Students talk at their tables and brainstorm a few different verbs. Students can take a paint chip supply strip and write down a few of their favorite verbs. You can cut the paint strips to make them look more like surfboards. 
To help my students remember that a verb is an action word, we make sharks. You can cut these out of construction paper ahead of time. Have the students color their shark and add a surfboard into the shark's mouth. 
These look so cute and are a great visual reminder that a verb is an action word. My class's sharks sure like to chomp down on those surfboards. 
Activity 2: Flip Floppin Nouns 
For this activity I cut out construction paper flip flops ahead of time and pre-punched holes in them. This saves a lot of time. To begin the activity, I played some serene beach music: rolling, crashing waves, seagulls, a gentle breeze. You can almost feel the sand beneath your feet! As the music plays we close our eyes and picture ourselves walking along the beach. I remind them we are looking for nouns which means a person, place or thing. Students begin to call out items they see: seashells, beach towels, beach chairs, seagulls, sand dollars. As they open their eyes they jot down a few of their favorites. 
Once they have written down a few of their nouns they are ready to twist on their pipe cleaners and add a few beads. When they are done they have a list of nouns from their walk along the beach. 
Activity 3: Diving for Adjectives 
For this activity, my students play a fun game! The first student chooses an item found at the beach for example, a seashell. Then each person at the table has to name an adjective describing that item. After a few rounds my students are pros at spotting adjectives. I give them each a paper snorkel mask to color. When they are done they use the blue paint chip circles to write down adjectives they might use in their beach story. 
When the students are done have them put their masks on and read each others adjectives. They can try to guess what each adjective might describe or even try to create their own sentence using that adjective. Now that we have created a few tools to help us remember those adjectives, nouns, and verbs, we are ready to start planning out our story. 
I give students a clipboard and notebook paper then let them spread out around the room and think up their perfect beach adventure story. Providing flexible seating and soothing music are essential to the creative writing process. I love to keep the beach music playing throughout our writing adventure. When they are ready and have a story plot in mind I have them create their DIY surfboard storyboard. Using a round container students traced 3 circles onto their boards. These will later be labeled with beginning, middle and end. 
When they are all done they have a custom surfboard storyboard that helps them identify the key details of their story. Now they are all set to start writing their beach adventure rough drafts. 
When rough drafts are complete it's time for students to partner up and assist each other with the editing process. My students love this. I always have them give one positive and 3 suggestions to strengthen the story. It might be a grammar change, a better way to say something or simply a spelling suggestion. I have found that colorful pens and the Editing & Revising flip book really help to get students started. 
When my students are all finished with their stories they turn them into storybooks. I use construction paper to create the books. They write and illustrate each page. They love seeing their work bound and published. It makes a great addition to your reading corner plus they are so fun to read aloud. I hope you love diving into writing with your students and trying out your own writing workshop. 
