Explore “How to” Procedural Writing with Your Students

If you’ve just completed a unit of work on procedural writing, you’re likely looking for a “How to” procedural writing topic that allows students to demonstrate their knowledge of the purpose, structural elements and language features of this expository text type. Look no further than Teach Starter’s “How to Stay Healthy” procedural writing activity!

This writing project requires students to create a piece of “How to” procedural writing for staying healthy. You’ll find everything you need to implement this fun procedural writing activity in the comprehensive student workbook. The workbook contains the following:

• Project overview page
• Assessment rubric
• Planning sheets for ingredients, instructions, vocabulary and diagrams
• Scaffolded writing page
• Lined writing page
• Blank writing page
• 3 x writing checklists

This procedural writing project downloads as a printable PDF or editable Google Slides file.

The great thing about this “How to” procedural writing topic is there are many different things that people can do to maximize good health, for example, eating well, exercising and getting quality sleep. When writing their procedural text, students can choose to focus on one of these ideas or include a combination of them. 

Through completing this procedural writing activity, students will not only be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the procedural writing genre but will also explore how to keep themselves and others fit and healthy!

How to Implement This Procedural Writing Activity 

Are you looking for some ideas as to how you might implement this procedural writing activity in your classroom? Here is one teacher’s suggested approach:

1. Get Brainstorming! – As a class, brainstorm all the things that people can do to stay healthy. You might explore ideas such as eating a balanced diet, moving frequently, getting quality rest, minimizing screen time and practicing mindfulness. You might like to point out to students that “health” as a concept includes physical, mental and emotional wellness. 
2. Introduce the Project – Give the students each a copy of the booklet. Read through the cover page instructions and walk through each of the planning templates. 
3. Research and Decision-Making – Before commencing the project, students will need to make a decision about what aspect of health they are going to write about. Allow some time for them to ponder this, conducting some research if necessary.
4. Brainstorming and Planning – Support the students as they brainstorm and plan the different sections of their procedure text using the templates provided in the project booklet.
5. Writing and Editing – Have students write their “How to Stay Healthy” procedural text using their planning as a guide. Once they have finished, direct them to the planning checklists to assist them in checking and improving their writing.
6. Submit for Teacher Feedback – Teachers can use the rubric provided to assess and provide feedback on the students’ writing.

Download This “How to” Procedural Writing Booklet

Use the dropdown menu on the Download button above to access the PDF or editable Google Slides file. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template before accessing it).

For sustainability purposes, please consider printing this workbook double-sided.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Curriculum-Aligned Procedural Writing Resources

Teach Starter prides itself on creating high-quality, curriculum-aligned resources to make planning and teaching easier for educators like you! Click below to explore some more of our time-saving procedural writing resources:

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