Longman Keystone • Building Bridges
Unit 5
DAILY WRITING FLUENCY PROMPTS
Lesson 1
Freewriting
Have students write what the phrase the power of words means to them.
SAY: Write what the phrase the power of words means to you.
Lesson 2
Visual Literacy
Have students look at the map of the Middle East on page 124 of the Student Book. Then
have them turn to page 58 and look at the map of Greece and Turkey. Show students a
contemporary map that includes both of these areas. Remind students that these areas
had early civilizations.
SAY: Look at the maps. What do the two areas have in common, geographically?
Why might both areas have had early civilizations?
Lesson 3
Exposition
Ask students to explain what the Sumerians used to write with instead of pen and paper.
SAY: Explain what the Sumerians used to write with instead of pen and paper.
Lesson 4
Creating Cuneiforms
Have students create cuneiforms of their own. Have them choose a noun that they could
show in a picture. Ask them to draw a simple picture for their word, then change the
picture to a more stylized cuneiform.
SAY: Choose a word and draw a simple picture of it. Then make a cuneiform
based on your drawing. Write the word in English.
Lesson 5
Writing Numbers
Write these numerals on the board: 63, 95, 124. Have students write the numbers in
cuneiform and in English.
SAY: Write the numbers in cuneiform and in English.
Longman Keystone • Building Bridges
Unit 5
DAILY WRITING FLUENCY PROMPTS
Lesson 6
Summary
Have students look back at the article “Early Writing.” Have them tell how long ago the
Sumerians began writing and explain why they may have developed writing.
SAY: Look back at “Early Writing.” Explain why the Sumerians may have
developed writing and tell how long ago that took place.
Lesson 7
Long a Words
Review the ways to make the long a sound: ai, ay, and eigh. Write these words on the
board: tail, clay, neighbor. Have students make a list of words with each spelling.
SAY: List four words for each long a spelling: ai, ay, and eigh.
Lesson 8
Compare and Contrast
Let students know that a village is a very small town in the country. Ask students to
explain what a city is. Then have them compare and contrast a village and city.
SAY: Compare and contrast a village and city.
Lesson 9
Long e Words
Review the ways to make the long e sound: ee and ea. Write these words on the board:
feet and each. Have students make a list of words with each spelling.
SAY: List five words for each long e spelling ee and ea.
Lesson 10
Opinion
Ask students why they think a young man who lives in a village would want to visit a
big city.
SAY: Why do you think a young man who lives in a village would want to see a
big city? Write your opinion.
Lesson 11
Captions
Have students choose one illustration on pages 134–135 of the Student Book and write a
caption that matches the story.
SAY: Choose one illustration on pages 134–135. Write a caption that goes with
the story.
Longman Keystone • Building Bridges
Unit 5
DAILY WRITING FLUENCY PROMPTS
Lesson 12
Journal Entry
Ask students to think about why they are happy to be themselves.
SAY: Write a journal entry telling why you are happy to be yourself.
Lesson 13
Play Questions
Ask students to imagine Akwasi in an American city. What questions would he ask?
Have students make up four questions.
SAY: What questions would Akwasi ask if he were in an American city? Make up
four questions.
Lesson 14
Freewriting
Ask students where they would like to travel if they could go anywhere. Have them tell
what they would like to see and do.
SAY: Where would you go if you could travel anywhere? What would you want
to see and do? Freewrite for five minutes.
Lesson 15
Exposition
Ask students to write about the meaning of their kente cloth designs. Have them explain
what the colors and shapes mean to them.
SAY: Write a brief explanation of your kente cloth design. Tell what the colors
and shapes mean to you.
Lesson 16
Sentences
Write on the board: Marta got a new backpack. She carried it on one shoulder. Have
students write two sentences telling one thing that a friend did. Have students use the
friend’s name and then use a pronoun in place of her name.
SAY: Write two sentences about something a friend did. In the second sentence,
use a pronoun in place of the name.
Lesson 17
Metacognition
Have students reflect on the power of words. Ask them what they learned about the
importance of words in this unit.
SAY: Write about two things you learned about the power of words in this unit.
Longman Keystone • Building Bridges
Unit 5
DAILY WRITING FLUENCY PROMPTS
Lesson 18
Compare and Contrast
Remind students that Akwasi took a journey with a purpose, just as the old woman did in
“Jewel in the Sand” (Unit 1) and the wives did in “The Clever Daughter-in-Law” (Unit
4). Have students compare and contrast Akwasi’s journey with that of a character in one
other story.
SAY: Compare and contrast Akwasi’s journey with that of a character in
another story your have read.