RACE Writing Strategy Practice Worksheets | Mental Health Writing Prompts | 4th & 5th Grade Reading Response

Engage your 4th and 5th grade students in reading comprehension and evidence-based writing with prompts focusing on relevant topics such as mental health and social emotional learning!

Each RACE Writing Strategy Practice Worksheets set includes reading response prompts that encourage critical thinking while building confidence in students' written responses using the RACE writing method (Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain).

Children can use these worksheets independently or in guided small groups during literacy centers, homework, test prep review, morning work, SEL lessons, etc. Perfect for building confidence in writing while learning about and discussing sensitive topics.

What's Included

10 printable RACE writing practice worksheets including mental health and SEL reading passages and response prompts

Student-friendly RACE writing format

Answer Keys: Not Included

Learning Objectives

Students will practice the RACE writing strategy while learning about mental health and social-emotional learning.

They will improve reading comprehension, citing text evidence, and written expression.

Additionally, learners will develop critical thinking skills and confidence in their social-emotional responses to challenging topics.

Order, Outline & Steps

Each worksheet is designed to practice the RACE writing method (Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain). Students will:

Read the question/passage

Restate the prompt/question

Answer the question completely

Cite text evidence

Explain how their evidence supports their answer

Revise their work as needed

The consistent format builds confidence and independence for responding to prompts.

Grades & Ages

Grade 4

Grade 5

Ages 9-11

Implementation Options

Whole class instruction

Small group intervention

Literacy center activity

Independent practice

Homework

Test prep review

Early finishers

Morning work

Sub planning

SEL lessons

File Type

PDF

Pages

10 pages

Answer Key: No

Standards Alignment

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.9

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.9

How to Use

Use with students after reading a passage or completing a class discussion about the mental health and social-emotional learning topics covered. Students can practice completing the RACE writing method in response to reading comprehension prompts.

Easy differentiation options and implementation ideas:

Use as a printable worksheet

Complete with read-aloud and modeling

Print and annotate using PDF highlighting tools

Complete verbally first if needed before writing

Complete with a partner before independent practice

Use as a social-emotional learning activity in counseling or with a focus teacher

Tags & Keywords

Help students build reading comprehension, evidence-based writing, and social-emotional learning skills in one engaging activity! These worksheets are perfect for building confidence in opinion writing while discussing sensitive topics using the RACE writing method.

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