The attached activities are intended to be a second step to the “Writing, Student Practice for Adding Meaningful Elaboration” packet. After the students have practiced adding sensory details with “Writing, Student Practice for Adding Meaningful Elaboration” packet, this packet will remove the support provided that listed the senses to include when elaborating. Now, the students will be provided the support of a story starter and expected to independently continue the story by adding sensory details.

An example of a paragraph in which the writer effectively “Stopped Time” is below. Notice that not much time passes from the beginning of the paragraph to the end, but it is full of descriptive details.

My heart pounded as the great ball of fire beat down upon my shoulders while I glanced upon the sandy covered beach. Breathing hard, I began to walk towards the crystal blue blanket that lay ahead of me. Tiny crabs scuttled across my feet as white seagulls hovered over my head. The peaceful blanket of jewels waved back and forth softly as if it were lulling me to sleep. My mind racing, I slowly waded into the water as the orange and pink sky seemed to take away the scorching heat and then seem to illuminate every corner of the beach. Dolphins pranced in the distance like silver and blue ribbons running through a sewing machine. Schools of fish trickled through the water as the sun took its final breaths in the sky. This vacation at the beach felt so peaceful, so brilliant as if it were only a dream, a soft, quiet, dream.