Dot Cassady
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Faces of the Great Depression: Dot Cassady

School: Fitchburg Arts Academy

City/State: Fitchburg, MA

Grade(s): 5

Format(s): Interview(s)

Subject(s): English Language Arts, Social Studies

Type(s): Informative/Explanatory

Writing Assignment Description

Fifth grade students at the Fitchburg Arts Academy in Fitchburg, Massachusetts created this book as part of a learning expedition on the Great Depression.

Students interviewed community elders and wrote up the interviews in third-person format, including photos and expressive drawings. Historical background on the time period was also included, and work went through peer critique and multiple drafts.

How This Writing Can Be Useful

  • Highlights a simple and easy to produce format
  • Shows how drawings and photos can enhance the text
  • Demonstrates the importance of capturing people’s stories
  • Excellent example of a catchy first paragraph

Relevant Resources

Project: Faces of the Depression

Common Core State Standards

Standard Long Term Learning Target
W.5.2
  • I can write informative/explanatory texts that convey ideas and information clearly.
W.5.3
  • I can write narrative texts about real or imagined experiences using descriptive details and clearly sequenced events.
W.5.7
  • I can use several sources to build my knowledge about a topic.
W.5.9
  • I can choose evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research.
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