Blog Post Mastery

Overview

This 58-minute lesson revises blog post writing for Year 6 students (approx. age 17-18), aligned with the Irish English Curriculum Framework (Junior Cycle/Leaving Cert level blend for IE Curriculum emphasis). It strengthens students' ability to structure and craft engaging blog writing, enhancing their analytical and creative skills while embedding competencies around communication, critical thinking, and digital literacy through active, student-centred learning.

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Curriculum Links

• Language: Communication, writing for real audiences, expressing ideas and opinions clearly.
• Competencies: Communicating, Managing Information and Thinking, Being Creative, Stamina and Persistence.
• Learning Outcomes:
  • Write with clarity and voice for different audiences and purposes (Strand Unit: Writing).
  • Organise ideas coherently and use appropriate style and tone to engage readers (IE Framework).
  • Plan, draft, revise, and edit written work reflecting purpose.
• Cross-curricular skills: Digital competence (writing blogs), critical literacy.
  (Source: IE Curriculum Framework, Language strand, level approx. 6th year)

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Identify and apply the key structural and stylistic features of a successful blog post.
2. Plan and draft an outline for a blog post on a given topic.
3. Use evaluative criteria to assess effective blog writing.
4. Develop confidence and creativity in digital-age writing formats.

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Success Criteria

Students will be able to:

• Explain the purpose and audience of a blog post clearly.
• Write an engaging introduction and use informal but clear language to introduce ideas.
• Use headings, bullet points, questions, and visual language appropriate for blogs.
• Plan their blog post with a logical flow from introduction, body paragraphs, to conclusion.
• Evaluate their writing against the success criteria and peer feedback.

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Lesson Timing & Activities

Time	Activity	Details & Resources
0-5 mins	Engage: Mini Brainstorm	On whiteboard/tablets: What makes a blog post different from other writing?
5-15 mins	Input: Features of a Blog Post	Teacher-led discussion referencing IE Curriculum’s emphasis on audience and purpose. Highlight: informal tone, headings, bullet points, engaging questions, call to action. Use dyslexia-friendly printout summarising key points in a clear font like OpenDyslexic or Comic Sans.
15-30 mins	Activity 1: Blog ‘Stations’	Set up 3 stations around room, each with 8-9 students rotating after 5 mins:
	- Station 1: Identify features in sample blogs	Different blog genres: personal, informational, review. Printed in dyslexia-friendly formatting with colour coding for features.
	- Station 2: Fix the blog!	Students edit a poorly written blog extract focusing on style and structure.
	- Station 3: Write a blog intro brainstorming with peers	Use shared notes or mind map apps for digital collaboration or paper notes.
30-45 mins	Activity 2: Blog Planning	Individually plan an outline for their blog post on the topic: “The role of technology in modern education.” Use a scaffolded planning sheet that includes introduction, 3 main points with sub-points, conclusion.
45-55 mins	Peer Review & Reflection	Pair students to exchange plans and provide feedback based on success criteria checklist. Incorporate 2 stars + 1 wish format. Students revise plans accordingly.
55-58 mins	Plenary: Quick Write Sharing & Exit Pass	Volunteers share key opening sentence or hook. Students write 1 sentence: “Tomorrow I will...” to consolidate next step in writing process.

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Differentiation Strategies

• For diverse learners including dyslexic students:
  • Provide dyslexia-friendly reading materials (e.g., coloured overlays, simplified font styles).
  • Use visual aids (colour-coded blog features) and graphic organisers for planning.
  • Allow verbal brainstorming or typing responses if writing is challenging.
• For students needing extra support:
  • Partner peer mentoring during station activities.
  • Provide sentence starters and structured planning templates to guide writing.
• For extension advanced learners:
  • Write a short reflective paragraph explaining how their blog tone engages readers and why.
  • Research and include an example of rhetorical devices used effectively in blogs (e.g., humour, metaphors).
  • Develop an alternative blog post on a different theme incorporating multimedia elements ideas.

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Resources

• Printed sample blogs (3 types) in dyslexia-friendly font and layout
• Planning templates and success criteria checklists (clear, concise formatting)
• Whiteboard or interactive board
• Tablets or computers for digital mind mapping (where available)
• Coloured pens and sticky notes for station activities

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Assessment (Formative)

• Observation of participation during stations and peer discussions.
• Review of individual blog plans against success criteria.
• Peer feedback quality (guided by checklist).
• Exit pass writing shows understanding of next writing step.

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Notes for Teachers

• Encourage active, social learning through stations; movement and collaboration increase engagement.
• Use clear, explicit modelling of blog features; reference popular Irish or international blogs students may know.
• Maintain high expectations for creativity and clarity, reminding students blogs aim to connect with real readers.
• Connect lesson to wider literacy goals: evaluating and creating digital texts, understanding tone and voice.
• Ensure dyslexia-friendly printouts are readily available at each station to support all learners effectively.

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This lesson plan combines curriculum-driven objectives with engaging, interactive activities tailored to student skill levels. It will empower students to write with confidence in a modern, relevant format and improve analytical thinking about audience and style—key competencies in the Irish English curriculum framework.