How this works:
Students fold a paper in half and write "Before" and "After" on the top. On one side we pick a sentence that can be revived. On the other side, they recreate the sentence. They do not add events, but make a more complex, descriptive sentence to reinsert into their work. I encourage them to revise as many sentences as they can.
To introduce this lesson, I modeled with marker and large paper in front of the class. Then, I gave a few practice sentences, such as "I ate pizza." The energy level surged as we developed that sentence and compared what we did with partners.
Other sentences to "makeover" were:
I went to the park. => As I zipped along the narrow bike path, I saw the slide and swings come into view.
I walked to school. => I skipped like a jolly, little elf toward the glass door of the red, brick school building.
Of course our discussion developed into comparing connotations between descriptions of folks who enjoyed walking into school and others that did not (or so they claim) and the ensuing inferences we could glean from their word choice.
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