If you are looking for a good writing curriculum, Hands-On Essays uses the hand as an outline to provide a clear, simple method for teaching how to write the four main types of essays.  There are sixteen FREE instructional videos found on the site and then the option to purchase an affordable coordinating student handbook for only $8.99.  While the curriculum is designed for middle school or high school aged children, I listened to several of the clips and feel like it would even be age appropriate for upper elementary and plan on using some of the videos with my 2nd grader.   Check out Hands-On Essays and see if it would be a good fit for your family or students.