📋 How-To Writing
How-to writing is where kids get to be the expert. They pick something they know how to do and explain it step by step so someone else could follow along. It sounds simple, but it teaches critical writing skills: logical order, audience awareness, and clarity.
What To Do
- Have them choose something they know well.
- They write step-by-step instructions.
- You follow the instructions EXACTLY as written.
Topics That Work Great
- How to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
- How to take care of a pet (feeding, walking, cleaning)
- How to play their favorite game
- How to build something in Minecraft or Roblox
- How to brush your teeth
- How to make their favorite snack
- How to do a cartwheel or a trick shot
Key Elements to Teach
- Number the steps. Order matters.
- Use transition words: First, next, then, after that, finally.
- Be specific. Not just "put peanut butter on bread" but "use a butter knife to spread peanut butter on one slice of bread."
The Fun Test
This is the best part. Follow their instructions EXACTLY as written. If they say "put peanut butter on bread" and do not mention opening the jar first, pretend you cannot figure it out. Pick up the whole jar and set it on the bread. They will laugh, and they will learn instantly why details and order matter.
Why This Works
Procedural writing teaches logical sequencing, clarity, and audience awareness. Kids have to think about what someone else does NOT already know. That perspective-taking skill is rare at this age and incredibly valuable for all future writing.
Pro Tips
- Let them pick a topic they are genuinely expert in. Passion makes better writing.
- The sillier the "exact following" test, the more memorable the lesson.
- After the test, let them revise their instructions. The revision feels natural because they SAW what went wrong.
- This transfers directly to science lab reports and any instructional writing they will do later.