Choose a strong opening hook, such as in "Where the Red Fern Grows" or "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." Read the line to your class and ask them if they would read more of the story based on that one line.
Explain that the sentence, called a hook, reels in readers just as a hook on a fishing line reels in fish. Read another hook to the class, and ask them what makes it intriguing. For example, if you read "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," they might say they want to know why Eustace Clarence Scrubbs almost deserves his name. Remind them that a hook makes you want to know more about the story.
List different types of hooks on chart paper--quote, action, dialogue, statistic, question, and onomatopoeia. Explain each one and share examples to illustrate.
Focus on one or two types of hooks at a time. Lead students to create hooks together. Write their ideas on chart paper to display in class for review and inspiration.
Practice writing the different hooks together until you cover all the ones listed on your chart. This may take several days, depending on your class.
Ask students to write hooks individually. You can assign a particular type of hook or leave it up to each student to choose her own. Individually provide feedback and encouragement. Allow students to share their hooks with the class, if they wish. Instruct them to keep the hooks in their writing folders to use for future writing assignments.