Informational Texts - Text Structure

Tuning In

• Watch the Informational Writing For Kids video on YouTube. After watching, ask the students:
  • Why do people write informational texts?
  • What does 'nonfiction' mean?
  • What text features might you find in an informational text?

Teacher Instruction

• Discuss the structure of informative texts, as outlined on slide 3 of the Developing Informative Writing Skills PowerPoint. Read through the first example text, Turtles, on slides 4-5. Subheadings have been added to the text to assist the students in identifying the informative structure.
• Read through the class activity, as outlined on slide 6. As a class, read through the second example text, Owls, on slides 7-8. Encourage the students to label the informative structure of the text as they are reading. Discuss the answers on slide 9. Highlight the factual content of the two texts, as well as the absence of any opinions.

Guided/Independent Learning

• Choose a sequencing activity that best suits the chosen content focus of the unit from the list on slide 10. These include texts about Roald Dahl, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Thunderstorms. Read through the text and the instructions for the sequencing activity together as a class.
• Allow the students to work on the sequencing activity in small groups or pairs. Monitor and support the students as required.
• As a class, discuss the correct sequence of the informative text. Discuss any techniques used by the students to help them sequence the text e.g. topic sentences at the start of each paragraph.

Wrapping Up

• Discuss and record some goals for the unit in collaboration with the students. Record these on a poster or template for students to refer to throughout the unit. Include suitable success criteria for each goal.