Grades 3–4
Put the Paragraph in Order
Two scrambled paragraphs, one how-to and one story, to number in order, then copy one correctly.
Writing worksheet · Paragraph writing and editing
Revise a Paragraph with ARMS
A plain zoo paragraph to revise with ARMS, with a plan box for each step and room to rewrite it.
- Grade level
- Grades 4–5
- Time
- About 35 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Paragraph structure, Topic and concluding sentences, Revising and editing, Proofreading
What kids do
“This paragraph is a little boring. Make it stronger with ARMS: Add, Remove, Move and Substitute.”
Printed on the sheet:
- I went to the zoo. It was fun. I saw animals. The animals were nice. I went home. Then I ate a snack at the zoo.
- A Add details: which animals? what did they do?
- R Remove a sentence or words you do not need
- M Move a sentence that is in the wrong order
- S Substitute swap a boring word (fun, nice) for a strong one
- Write your new paragraph.
Teacher tip
Model each ARMS step (add, remove, move, substitute) on one sentence before kids revise the paragraph.
How to use it
- Read the paragraph aloud together before kids mark anything.
- Model one fix on the document camera, thinking out loud.
- Let early writers draw first, then talk, then write.
Watch for
Kids who rewrite everything instead of fixing what is marked. Keep changes small and on purpose.
Talk about it
- Which change made the biggest difference?
- Where else do writers use this skill?
Take it further
Have kids use the same steps on a paragraph from their own journal.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
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