3 Genre Writing Stepbook Template

One of my favorite things to do is have my students write across the genres.  I like to give them one general topic and then assign three different writing prompts that align with that topic.  This results in 3 writing pieces that I inevitably want to display in my classroom somewhere.  The problem, though, is that as the students become better writers, and the writing becomes longer and more detailed, it takes up much more space than a single sheet of paper on a bulletin board.  

So this go around, when I assigned them a 3-genre writing about axolotls, I also had them type the essays on a "step book" template.  It was rather easy to make on Google Slides.  I set up one slide and put a 1/2 inch black box on the bottom.  Then, on the second slide, I moved that box up so the bottom of the 1/2 inch box was touching the top of the first one. Then, on slide three, I moved the 1/2 inch box again so it was again touching the top of the previous one.  I did that again on slide four.  This created a step book type template.

After the kids typed their work into the proper slide (I just put a text box there for them), I printed it out and stapled the pages together.  I then cut them so that they created a step book.  (I'm sure my 4th graders could have cut it themselves, but honestly it was just easier for me to do it.)

On the final page, they drew a picture of an axolotl to match the theme and, viola, we had 3 essays compactly displayed on the board!  

If you would like to see it in action, here is the Reel Video I made about it.

Here is the template if you would like it.  

Here also are some great 3-genre writing prompts that I love using with my students.