College Board
The Departure
Scholars learn about the Hero's Journey as they read Ray Bradbury's "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh." They analyze the story's structure and narrative techniques. Finally, they write summaries of the text's central idea and use their...
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
Interacting Texts Directed Activities Related to Texts (Darts)
Want to improve your students' reading skills? This is a good place to find the types of directed activities, using a definition text, reconstruction/analysis activities, and advantages of using DARTs.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: All About Posters
As young writers become more skilled through the Writers Workshop lessons, they can begin working to become more skilled with non-fiction writing. A series of mini-lessons, graphic organizers, and samples of student work are all provided.
A to Z Teacher Stuff
Ato Zteacherstuff: Report Writing in Primary Grades
This is a fun, hands-on lesson from AtoZteacherstuff! Students go through a study of frogs while learning how to interpret and restate factual information.
Thinkport Education
Thinkport: Women in Modern World History
Using a famous quote from Maya Angelou as inspiration, students learn and practice writing informative essay related to hisotric events.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: A Revision Lesson: Introductory Prepositions and Series of Three
After giving students the writing topic "A Special Day that I Remember, give students ten to fifteen minutes to write on the topic. Then tell them they will be revising their "Special Day" prompt writing, but first they will listen to...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: W.3.2b: Develop the Topic With Facts, Definitions, and Details
Links to 12 lessons and activities that build student skills in standard W.3.2b: Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.
Other
Kim's Korner: Patterns of Organization
This resource from Kim's Korner for Teacher Talk defines various patterns of text organization and provides a brief essay example of each pattern.
Read Works
Read Works: Grade 2: Three Lesson Unit: Main Idea
[Free Registration/Login Required] A series of three lesson plans designed to teach students to identify main ideas through headings and chapter titles, and then to write appropriate titles of their own. Lessons are based on the books...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
Depaul University: Center for Urban Education: K Plus (Spanish) [Pdf]
Translated into Spanish, this graphic organizer can be used by student to collect facts about a topic. Students will collect information but record the "gold standard" of facts only.
Other
Prezi: Nonfiction Text Structures
Slideshow examines the five most common text structures used by authors to organize nonfiction writing.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: If You Give a Student an Animal
In this lesson plan, the book If You Give a Moose a Muffin, written by Laura Numeroff, is used as a mentor text for word choice. The content focus of the lesson is to teach the students to take ownership of scientific and descriptive...
Bill Carson
Puritan and Reformed Writings: "Meditation 1"
Full text of Edward Taylor's poem, "Meditation 1." Includes links to other information about Puritans and their writing.
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...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: About Frogs
Students read picture books, complete science worksheets, and draw illustrations to show their understanding of the life cycle of frogs.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Use Evidence to Show How a Writer Supports
This Center for Urban Education resource provides a downloadable graphic organizer for students to use when analyzing the evidence that authors use to support a claim. RI.9-10.5 ideas/claims developed. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.8
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Summarizing a Source
Information that can be read or listened to that discusses two methods of how to write effective summaries as well as how to avoid plagiarism when summarizing informational texts. Finally, examples of literary summaries are provided....
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Effective Intro & Conclusion & Variety of Sentence Structures
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson focuses on the introduction which establishes the context for the information that will form the body of the essay, connecting the conclusion to the introduction,...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: What Did Jimmy's Boa Eat? 1 of 2
In this lesson plan, students will write an informational paper by comparing fictional text and a non fiction text about boa constrictors.
Other
Research Project Guide: A Handbook for Teachers and Students
This resource provides guided research teaching units for all levels of learners.
Other
Curriculum Associates: Determining Theme or Central Idea [Pdf]
In this reading comprehension lesson unit, learners are guided in learning how to find the main theme or idea of a text and understanding how details in the text convey that. Includes lots of exercises and examples, as well as...
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Academic Argument: Introduction to Argumentative Thesis Statements
This introduction focuses on evaluating argumentative thesis statements. Click on the Next link at the bottom right for more information.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Alma's Way: Neighborhood Notebook
As Alma explores, she appreciates all the great things about her neighborhood. How can we make observations and celebrate our communities? Students will use a printable Alma's Way My Neighborhood Notebook to observe the people, places,...