How do you get kids to tackle technical writing? It’s easy! (Okay. It takes some work, but it takes some play too.) Read my poster session notes for some tips on how to do just that.

What we did:

Step One: Start with an invitation to “invent” something or to interview a maker. Actually, you have to start even further back by having kids pull apart what makes a great essay by noticing what works well in lots of mentor texts a la Katie Wood Ray. 

Step Two: Have kids write an informative piece about something they already know how to do well through several drafts until they are pleased with the results (or the deadline for turning them in has been reached - whichever comes first.)

Quick tip: Showing them your own writing in progress is a huge boon in this process. Both you and they better understand what you’re attempting. If you make something and interview someone all the better.

Step Three: Compile a list of potential interview subjects, people you know well who are Makers in some way.  

Step Four: Allow kids to choose which type of project they want to pursue. Show them instructables.com and other websites they might use for inspiration. Encourage learning from a mentor.

Students by the numbers

who made something         49

who interviewed a teacher  3

who interviewed a relative 6

who interviewed a stranger 5

Step Five: Look carefully at published profile pieces as well at some technical or “how-to” writing to see what differentiates them from the essays written previously. Enumerate what you’d like to emulate. Write away!

What they attempted building, baking, or besting:

• soda bottle slingshot
• rainbow cupcakes
• podcast
• apple pie (3)
• YouTube video
• chicken croquettes
• duct tape wallets (5)
• Jello mold
• iPod projector
• carrot cake
• a computer
• s’mores brownies
• specialized paper airplane
• marinara sauce
• a catapult
• cake pops(2)
• origami hearts
• candy sushi
• grid drawings
• cinnamon buns
• teddy bear
• pasta
• time travel blanket
• chocolate chip cookies
• game app for Smartphones
• peach cobbler
• french and fishtail braids
• macaroons

What they learned

After students turned in their final drafts, I asked them to reflect on their experience. In addition to increased engagement, students reported that they learned or relearned the importance of the following:

• specificity
• focus
• defining unknown terms through appositives
• leads
• anticipating readers‘ needs
• voice
• thoughts and feelings
• painting pictures with words
• sequence
• writing small
• ease in replication
• including mistakes
• visuals
• audience
• revision

Kids also enjoyed learning more about people they knew, getting to know new people, and learning the new skills themselves. One student summed up the value of this essay to him. 

“I learned that detail can help   and that detail can kill. When an essay is anemic in detail, the reader is left confused. When there is an excess of detail, the reader becomes bored. Striking this balance was one of the most important things I learned writing this piece.” - Saarang

What I learned

      I was initially disappointed because I had lined up a bunch of  people to be interviewed and thought that lots of kids would choose this option, but then I realized that the kids weren't shunning the interviews. They were really excited to make something. Those who are Makers themselves can understand this enthusiasm. In fact, many cited having the chance to learn something new as increasing their motivation to write well.

     Lots of kids referenced the first informative essay as necessary for their success the second time out. They said that the principles they learned the first time out helped them to do a better job by knowing both what to do and what not to do as they crafted their technical work.

     So in addition to learning paper mache and a great deal about a childhood friend (the subjects of my essays), my students taught me again  the value of engagement. I also relearned the need to take time to learn deeply. Thanks to Penny Kittle for the idea of revisiting a genre already attempted. 

   Given the success we met with this project, Making Makers will be “play dates” I schedule for years to come.