You Can Use This Structure to Talk About...
You can use Describe/Explain/Example when you want to tell about...
A movie, a book, a game, a show, anything new you experienced, something cool you learned
I'm at the zoo and I tell you: "The elephant has big ears and gray skin and it sprayed water on itself. Elephants use their trunks to grab things. I saw a baby elephant follow its mom around"
Describe/Explain/Example?
Someone says: "Fourth grade was good.
Challenge: How would you ask them to give you MORE details? Use one of your structures!
"Tell me one specific thing that happened!" / "What was different from third grade?" / "Tell me the big picture and then zoom in on one moment" / "Compare fourth grade to third grade"
Your parents ask "How was school?" What structure helps you give a good answer?
Big Picture/Small Picture/Why It Matters
What are the 3 main things you need to do to tell a good impromptu story?
Tell details / Don't just say one sentence / Use a structure to organize your thoughts / Include a journey/what happened / Include why it matters
You can use Pros/Cons/My Opinion when your parents ask you about...
Your opinion on anything (bedtime, screen time, homework, a decision the family is making, whether you should get a pet)
I say: "Should we extend recess? Well, more recess is fun and helps us exercise, BUT it means less time for math. I think we should because we need breaks!"
Pros/Cons/My Opinion
Your friend says: "I watched a movie."
Challenge: Ask them 2-3 questions using the Describe/Explain/Example structure!
"What is it about?" / "How does the story work?" / "Give me an example of something that happens!"
You're sitting with your grandparent and they say "What have you been up to?" What are 2 structures you could use?
Any 2 of: Past/Present/Future, Big Picture/Small Picture, News Reporting, Story structures
You're telling the News Reporting structure story. What are the 5 parts?
Who, What, When, Different Perspectives (or two points of view), and Impact (or what it meant)
You can use Big Picture/Small Picture/Why It Matters when someone asks you...
"How was your day?" "How was school?" "What happened?" "Tell me about your week"
I tell you: "My week was busy. On Tuesday I got picked for soccer team and it was huge - I've been practicing all season. That matters because now I feel proud of my hard work!"
Big Picture/Small Picture/Why It Matters
Your parent asks: "What do you think about staying up later on weekends?"
Give an answer that ISN'T just "yes" or "no" - use a structure!
Pros/Cons/My Opinion (with specific reasons)
Your friend wants your opinion on something (like a TV show, a rule, a food). Which structure do you use?
Pros/Cons/My Opinion
Someone asks you about your favorite thing. Name 2 different structures you could use to answer them.
Describe/Explain/Example AND Big Picture/Small Picture/Why It Matters (or any 2 structures that fit)
You can use Compare/Contrast/So What when you want to explain...
The difference between two things (two teachers, two years of school, two friends, old vs new, before vs after)
My friend and I are similar because we both love soccer, but different because she likes art and I like science. That means we can teach each other new things!
Compare/Contrast/So What
You want to tell about a book you read.
Use any structure to tell about it (your choice!)
Describe/Explain/Example AND Big Picture/Small Picture/Why It Matters AND Compare/Contrast
You need to tell your teacher why you didn't finish your homework. Which structure helps you explain AND ask for help?
Problem/Cause/Solution
What's the BIG IDEA we learned in all 10 weeks? (Hint: It's not about memorizing structures!)
Tell stories with details / Use structures to organize your thoughts / Don't give one-sentence answers / Details make stories interesting / Help people picture what you're saying
You can use Problem/Cause/Solution when you need to...
Talk to a grown-up about something that's wrong, ask for help, solve a disagreement, explain why you're struggling
I couldn't finish my homework. I got stuck on math. I should ask my teacher for extra help so I understand it better!
Problem/Cause/Solution
DAILY DOUBLE! Tell a 60-second story about something that happened to you THIS WEEK using the structures you learned!
What to listen for:
You want to explain to your sibling or friend why TWO things are similar but also different. What structure do you use?
Compare/Contrast/So What
DAILY DOUBLE! Pick ANY structure and tell us a real story about your week using it. We want to PICTURE what you're talking about!
Details, organized thoughts, a real story (not "it was fine")