I love teaching about informational text. I think that it can easily be neglected since literary text can be more fun to teach. It is also easier since most kids are already familiar with literary text structures.
There is also the tiny, little problem with appropriate text levels. Informational text can often be WAAAAYYYY above your student’s reading levels. I always had the hardest time finding informational text, with any kind of meat to it, that my kids could actually READ.
So now I just write it myself.
It makes things so much easier. 🙂
My latest pack has FIVE informational articles.
The articles revolve around popular December and January themes. The topics covered are: the arctic fox, polar bear, snowy owl, blizzards, and the North and South Pole.
These are perfect for small group instruction.
Most of the topics address either survival (both human and animal) or adaptations (the animals in the articles).
A great way to introduce ALL of the topics is by using a Frayer model. Have you ever used a Frayer model? It is actually a vocabulary strategy that was developed by Dorthey Frayer and some of her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin in the late 1960’s. It is a great way for kids to deepen their understanding of vocabulary words.
In this case, I am using it as a way to deepen student’s understanding of the main theme or overarching idea in these articles. This would be a FANTASTIC way to introduce the articles. Then, as you read the articles, students could add to the bottom showing examples of human and/or animal survival.
I know in 3rd grade, many science curriculum covers adaptations, so I added this as a Frayer model. You could use these for students to find the animal adaptions that help animals survive the extreme weather. It could be used instead of (or in addition, if you want) to the Frayer model above. It would be used in the same way, as an introduction to the articles, and then students could add to the adaptions (behavioral and structural) on the bottom as they read the articles.
If you like these Frayer models they are FREEBIES! You can snag them here!
Each of the articles includes a page of comprehension questions and a graphic organizer for students to practice finding the main idea.
Each article includes a simple extension project for students to complete. This is perfect for independent work after students have read the article in a small group.
For the animal articles, students will create a “smoosh book.” These are adorable, one-page books that students can create. They can apply their knowledge of text features and new learning from the article and additional, two-page Fact File on each topic.
Have you ever seen “smoosh books?” They are so much fun!
Students can create a tiny, library of books by storing all their research books in a small box, like a jello, pectin, or even the single-serving breakfast cereal boxes.
Aren’t they precious? And only ONE copy per student!
For the blizzard and the North and South Pole article, students will be creating flipbooks. In the North and South Pole article, students will read the article, then complete a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the North and South poles. Finally, students will use the Venn diagram to complete a flipbook about the similarities between the two.
Click on the picture below to grab your copy!
I am giving away a $25 gift card to one lucky winner!!
Mandy Gregory is a 2007 and 2012 Teacher of the Year. She has taught Kindergarten- 4th grades in both the general education and inclusion settings. She is currently a 1st grade Special Education teacher. She is the owner and creator of Mandy’s Tips for Teachers website (www.mandystipsforteachers.com) and has over 13 years of teaching experience. She is married with two beautiful children.