TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Metamorphosis Stories of Change
The goal of this activity is for students to learn how to tell a story in order to make a complex topic (such as global warming or ozone holes) easier for a reader to grasp. Students realize that the narrative impulse underlies even...
Cengage Learning
National Geographic: Informational Text and Young Children [Pdf]
Research-based informative article on when, why and how to introduce and teach reading skills with informational texts to early-elementary students beginning as early as kindergarten.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Changing America
CommonLit.org is a wonderful resource to use in a Language Arts classroom. Each story or article is accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. In addition, students can click on words to see...
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Why Did the Author Write That?
This tutorial explains point of view in informational texts. Students will learn how to analyze multiple accounts of the same topic or event and identify similarities and differences in different points of view.
Other
Laura Candler: Green Court Claims: Are Green Companies Really Green? [Pdf]
In this lesson, students investigate claims that companies make about their products and business practices they use to imply that they are environmentally friendly. Students work in groups to research the claim they chose and then...
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Integrating Information: A Titanic Challenge
Read about the sinking of the Titanic and learn to identify key ideas in multiple texts, review similarities and differences between those key ideas, and identify the difference between important and interesting key ideas. This...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Cities in Mesopotamia: Understanding a Complex Text
In this instructional activity, 6th graders use details from a nonfiction article to create a visual representation and then, from that visual, provide evidence that demonstrates their understanding of the text. Includes samples of...
Other
Curriculum Associates: Comparing and Contrasting Texts [Pdf]
In these activities, learners are asked to compare and contrast two versions of each event with two pieces of writing that are about the same topic. Teaching notes with answer keys are provided as well.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Arctic vs. Antarctic
Students will be able to identify similarities and differences between two texts about the polar habitats by using a Venn diagram. Included in this lesson are guided questions to use while reading, a printable Venn Diagram, and pictures...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: A Day to Celebrate Our Planet Earth
Learners will compare an informational text versus a narrative text about Earth Day. Included in this lesson are videos and pictures of the lesson in action, a printable Earth Day Venn Diagram, and a recycling activity.
Thinkport Education
Thinkport: Read Like This: Using Informational Text Strategies
In this module practice working with informational text.
Thinkport Education
Thinkport: Research Simulation Task
Engage in a research process by analyzing a variety of print and non-print texts on the subject of bullying, identifying evidence regarding the topic, and using this new information to respond to questions about the text and the topic.
Other
Sadlier School: Comparing and Contrasting Firsthand & Secondhand Texts
This unit uses first- and second-hand accounts to explore the life of Ruby Bridges and revolves around the book "Through My Eyes" by Ruby Bridges. This detailed lesson includes a full literacy unit, tips for small group and independent...
Free Reading
Free Reading: Vocabulary Activities Find Activities
A fantastic reading skills site emphasizing vocabulary activities. This site contains 54 individual vocabulary activities to click on, and provides teaching tips as well. It is still in the building phase, and more activities, tips, and...
Utah Education Network
Uen: 1st Grade Act: 22: Retelling the Tiny Seed
This lesson engages students in story retelling to Eric Carle's book, The Tiny Seed. Students will participate in interactive storytelling as they write sentences and illustrate pictures about seed travel.
Other
Carson Newman College: Critical Reading of an Essay's Argument
Extensive examination of what it means to critically read an argument. This process is sometimes called "critical reading," or "close reading," or "active reading." First the differences between reading to extract information and reading...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Think Clearly: Analyze Support a Position[pdf]
This Center for Urban Education resource provides a downloadable worksheet. Students will read a nonfiction article and then write about scaffolded prompts that will help them determine the strength of evidence presented in the argument.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Analyzing Famous Speeches as Arguments
This multi-session lesson features the opportunity to analyze a variety of famous speeches. Learners will look carefully at tone, rhetoric, propaganda techniques, and historical context as they write an analysis paper....
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Pumpkins and Apples, Oh My!
Students will be able to compare and contrast two non-fiction books with a similar theme - in this case, plant life cycles. Extensive resources included such as worksheets, samples of student work, assessment ideas, extension activities,...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway:analyze How Author's Style and Syntax Support Meaning
In this learning module, students will learn and apply the concepts of author's style and syntax.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Analyze the Relevance, Quality, and Credibility of Evidence
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson, students will learn to analyze the quality, relevance, and credibility of evidence used to support an argument.
Other
Corwin Press: Chapter 7: Informational Text Lessons in First Grade
This chapter provides guided informational text lessons for first graders. Differentiation and management tips are provided, along with steps to use while implementing these lessons.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Applying Word Study Strategies (English I Reading)
In this lesson, students will practice applying word study strategies to improve your reading fluency and comprehension. L.9-10.5b nuances
CPALMS
Cpalms: The Magical Library
In this tutorial, students will take a virtual trip to a library and learn how to identify the genre, author, and illustrator of a book. After listening to short segments from a magical wizard, students will identify books that are story...