Students create posters that depict the important points of the ideas trait. They include pictures and phrases such as "Show, don't tell" or "Write from experience." Post these on a wall in the classroom. Students can use the display as a reference point to improve their understanding of ideas and content. As other traits are explored, create displays for them also.
Find an article in the local or school newspaper that might interest students. Rewrite it, deleting significant details. Place it on an overhead projection; read and discuss it with the students. Ask them to list questions they have about the news story. Emphasize that when an article contains strong ideas, readers won't have questions.
Brainstorm a list of interview questions with the students. Discuss how inquiries such as "What is your favorite color?" or "When were you born?" are boring. Encourage students to include questions such as "What is your greatest fear?" or "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Each student interviews a classmate and writes an introduction to a story about him; they are read aloud in class.
Divide the students into small groups. Place an object, an animal or a piece of art in the center of each group. Students brainstorm, exhausting their ideas to write as many details as possible about the object. When groups have finished the activity, challenge them to come up with at least two more details, emphasizing that it is easy to miss something.
Students must learn to seek intriguing information about their subjects. Divide them into small groups and assign each group a different topic. Provide a stack of reference books. Students make a t-chart, writing "Well known facts" on one side and "Fascinating information" on the other. Group members brainstorm facts they already know and then dig for interesting information. The groups present their t-charts to their peers.
Distribute a paper to students that contains a group of words. Include telling words, such as "said" and "nice" and showing words, such as "bossy" and "rambled." Ask students to circle the words that "show" and then discuss the difference. Write telling sentences, such as "I like pizza" or "Baseball is my favorite sport" on an overhead projection. Challenge students to rewrite them with description.
Arrange students in groups. Ask them to make up lyrics to a familiar tune, such as "I've been workin' on the railroad," to describe the ideas writing trait. Have group members sing the songs to the class.