English Language Arts3-5
Revising and Editing with ARMS and CUPS for 4th Grade
By Tara B.
A short interactive slide-based mini-lesson that teaches 4th graders to revise and edit their writing using the ARMS and CUPS physical-movement strategy. It builds revision skills through a hook comparing a weak draft to a stronger one, moving students toward independent polishing of their own work.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as a 20-30 minute whole-class mini-lesson before a writing workshop block, projecting the slides and pausing for student observations on Slide 2's Draft A and Draft B comparison.
- Discussion question: What changed between the two drafts, and how did those changes make the second sentence more interesting to read?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pair them with a partner during the arms-and-cups movements and provide a printed ARMS and CUPS reference card they can keep at their desk.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to apply ARMS and CUPS to a paragraph from their own draft and explain in writing which two changes they made and why.
- Estimated time: About 20-30 minutes, including the physical movement practice and the first guided revision.
English Language Arts3-5
Revising and Editing with ARMS and CUPS for 4th Grade
By Tara B.
A short interactive slide-based mini-lesson that teaches 4th graders to revise and edit their writing using the ARMS and CUPS physical-movement strategy. It builds revision skills through a hook comparing a weak draft to a stronger one, moving students toward independent polishing of their own work.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as a 20-30 minute whole-class mini-lesson before a writing workshop block, projecting the slides and pausing for student observations on Slide 2's Draft A and Draft B comparison.
- Discussion question: What changed between the two drafts, and how did those changes make the second sentence more interesting to read?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pair them with a partner during the arms-and-cups movements and provide a printed ARMS and CUPS reference card they can keep at their desk.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to apply ARMS and CUPS to a paragraph from their own draft and explain in writing which two changes they made and why.
- Estimated time: About 20-30 minutes, including the physical movement practice and the first guided revision.