Last updated: August 7, 2026
Let’s be honest, when we tell students to “show, don’t tell,” most of them look at us like we’ve just asked them to write a novel in ancient Greek. It’s one of those writing skills that sounds simple… until they try it.
This post walks you through a ready-to-go mini-lesson that helps students understand what “showing” really means and how to do it. The entire lesson is built into an editable, flexible, classroom-tested Google Slides presentation.
⭐ What You’ll Learn
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to help students:
✔ understand the difference between “showing” and “telling”
✔ analyze mentor texts for vivid, descriptive writing
✔ add sensory details and imagery to strengthen narrative voice
✔ revise simple sentences into rich, descriptive ones
✔ identify “telling” passages and transform them into “showing”
✔ use strong verbs and precise vocabulary to enhance writing
✔ apply show‑don’t‑tell techniques to emotions, actions, and scenes
⭐ Mini‑Lesson: What “Show, Don’t Tell” Really Means
“Show, don’t tell” is one of the most misunderstood writing skills. Students often think it means “add more words,” but the real goal is to help readers experience the moment rather than simply hear about it.
Explain to students that strong “showing” writing:
- uses sensory details to create imagery
- reveals emotion through action, not labels
- builds voice through precise word choice
- helps readers visualize the scene
- makes writing feel alive and authentic
Model how to examine a sentence by asking: “If I couldn’t use the emotion word, how would I show what the character feels?” This question helps students move from abstract telling to concrete showing.
⭐ Get the Lesson Handout
📥 Download the free handout with the Google Slides mini‑lesson, mentor text examples, practice passages, and student organizers.
Activities for Teaching Show, Don’t Tell
✨ Activity #1 — Let’s Talk About It
Students compare a “telling” passage to a “showing” passage from Where the Red Fern Grows and discuss what makes the descriptive version more vivid.
We kick things off with a side-by-side comparison that gets students thinking. One version tells; the other shows. The example comes from Where the Red Fern Grows—and it’s a great one.
Telling:
I left work feeling happy. It was a good day.
Showing:
“When I left my office that beautiful spring day, I had no idea what was in store for me. To begin with, everything was too perfect for anything unusual to happen. It was one of those days when a man feels good, feels like speaking to his neighbor, is glad to live in a country like ours, and proud of his government…”
Cue the discussion: Which one paints a picture? Which one makes you feel something? Students will start to see the difference—and that’s the goal.
✨ Activity #2 — The Power of Details
Students watch a simple sentence grow as details are added, showing how imagery and specificity transform writing.
Next, we zoom in on how adding details transforms a sentence. Watch this simple sentence grow:
- The girl went to the beach.
- Sally went to Ocean Isle Beach.
- Last summer, young Sally went to Ocean Isle Beach on the coast of North Carolina with her family.
- During the hottest part of the summer, ten-year-old Sally went to Ocean Isle Beach on the coast of North Carolina with her parents and two younger sisters.
Each version adds more detail, more imagery, and more voice. Students see how “telling” becomes “showing” with just a few thoughtful additions.
✨ Activity #3 — Mentor Text Magic
Students analyze two scenes from Where the Red Fern Grows to identify sensory language, emotion, and descriptive detail.
We return to Where the Red Fern Grows for two more examples of vivid, descriptive writing:
- One scene features Rubin and Rainie daring Billy to catch the ghost coon.
- The other shows Little Ann being judged in the beauty contest.
Both are rich with sensory language and emotion—perfect for helping students analyze what makes writing come alive. Discussion questions are included to guide the conversation.
✨ Bonus Mini‑Lesson — Teaching Irony Without Spoilers
A short video introduces verbal, situational, and dramatic irony using spoiler‑free examples. Students complete a matching organizer to identify irony in short scenarios.
Want to take your descriptive writing to the next level? Irony is when something turns out differently from what is expected. It’s a powerful way to “show” emotion, surprise, or humor without spelling everything out.
This short video explains the three types of irony (verbal, situational, and dramatic) using examples that don’t spoil any stories. It’s a great way to help students understand how contrast and surprise can make writing more vivid and memorable.
📺 Watch the video below to learn how irony works—and how you can use it in your own writing.
📝 A matching organizer is included in the handout to help students identify and write their own examples of irony.
✨ Activity #4 — Quick Quiz Time
Students read six short passages and decide which ones “show” and which ones “tell.”
This one’s simple but effective. Students read six short passages and decide which ones “show” and which ones “tell.” Spoiler alert: they’ll catch on fast.
The goal here is exposure—lots of examples to help students internalize the difference.
✨ Activity #5 — Let’s Write (Angrily)
Students brainstorm what anger looks like and use those details to write a descriptive paragraph about losing a wallet.
Now it’s their turn. Students brainstorm what anger looks like—clenched fists, red faces, stomping feet—and use those phrases to write a paragraph about losing a wallet.
It’s a great way to move from abstract emotion to concrete description.
✨ Activity #6 — Oreo Writing (Yes, Really)
Students describe an Oreo using sensory details, then write a descriptive paragraph. A student favorite.
This one’s a student favorite. Give each student an Oreo (or any snack), and have them describe how it looks, smells, feels, and tastes. Then, they use those sensory details to write a descriptive paragraph.
It’s fun, it’s delicious, and it drives the point home: good writing makes you feel like you’re there.
✨ Activity #7 — Vocabulary Boost
Students use the “Said Is Dead” mini‑poster to replace weak dialogue tags with stronger, more descriptive verbs.
Another key to showing instead of telling? Strong word choice. This mini-poster, “Said is Dead,” offers students alternatives to the word “said” to make their dialogue feel more dynamic.
This mini-poster is included in the post handout.
⭐ Lesson Recap
| Type | Used For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Telling | Stating information plainly without imagery. | “I left work feeling happy.” |
| Showing | Using sensory details and actions to reveal emotion. | “It was one of those days when a man feels good…” |
| Sensory Details | Helping readers visualize and experience the moment. | “During the hottest part of the summer…” |
| Precise Word Choice | Replacing vague words with vivid, specific language. | “clenched fists,” “stomping feet,” “whispered,” “grumbled” |
| Mentor Text Analysis | Studying published writing to identify strong showing techniques. | Scenes from Where the Red Fern Grows |
⭐ Teacher Information
Differentiation for Show, Don’t Tell
Emerging Writers: Provide sentence starters and sensory word banks. On‑Level Writers: Ask students to revise short “telling” passages into “showing” versions. Advanced Writers: Challenge students to revise for tone, mood, or voice. English Learners: Pair sensory details with visuals and sentence frames. Extra Support: Offer color‑coded mentor text examples.
Common Misconceptions
Students often:
- think “showing” means adding more adjectives
- confuse sensory details with random description
- label emotions instead of revealing them through action
- forget to connect details to the character’s experience
- Addressing these early helps students write with clarity and voice.
Standards Alignment
RL.4–6.3, W.4–6.3, L.4–6.3
⭐ Teacher Tip
Encourage students to act out emotions—anger, excitement, fear, embarrassment—and describe what they see. This physical modeling helps them translate actions into vivid writing.
Bonus: Online Resources
Want even more practice? Here is a helpful link:
⭐ Ready to bring these lessons to life?
Grab the free handout and Google Slides lesson below. All activities are included in a student‑friendly, fully editable presentation—perfect for your next writing block.
Grab the free handout and Google Slides lesson here.
All activities listed can be found in a student-friendly, fully editable Google Slides presentation. The presentation is ready to go for your next writing block.
“Show, don’t tell” doesn’t have to be a mystery. With the right examples, a little humor, and maybe a cookie or two, students can learn to write with clarity and voice.
📚 Want More Practice with “Show, Don’t Tell”?
These novel studies include full narrative writing units with a dedicated lesson on “Show, Don’t Tell,” as well as activities on vivid imagery, dialogue, story hooks, and more. Each unit is classroom-tested and ready to use—perfect for reinforcing writing skills through literature your students will love.
Flora & Ulysses Novel Study (Grade 4)
Includes lessons on figurative language, descriptive writing, and narrative structure.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Novel Study (Grade 5)
Focuses on vivid imagery, plot development, and character-driven storytelling.
The Outsiders Novel Study (Grade 6)
Includes lessons on foreshadowing, conflict, and crafting emotionally rich narratives.
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I came across this fantastic powerpoint that really encapsulates teaching Show Don’t Tell. I modified it to include descriptions.