Get Your Students Writing Animal Information Texts

When introducing a new text type to our littlest learners, it’s important to start simple and with structure!

This set of five animal information text cloze passages has been designed specifically for the primary grades. The prompts provide scaffolding via a series of sentences to be filled in, teaching them key components of information texts in the process. Students are encouraged to choose an animal from the following groups to write about:

• Insects
• Mammals
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Fish

Some of the scaffolding sentences included in the prompts are:

• My animal can be found…
• The lifespan of my animal is…
• My animal eats…
• My animal protects itself by…
• One interesting fact about my animal is…

Space for a visual representation of the animal is also provided.

How to Use These Informational Text Writing Prompts

Looking for some advice as to how you might use these animal information text prompts with your students? Here is one suggested process:

1. Text Type Review – Before starting this task, students should be familiar with information texts and their purpose. They should understand that information texts tell the audience about a particular topic using facts.
2. Choose an Animal – Allow the students to select an animal to write about. Having them select an animal themselves will likely lead to greater engagement with the task. Students are also more likely to choose an animal they are familiar with, which will help with the writing process.
3. Research the Topic – Although students will most likely be familiar with the animal  they choose, provide them with an opportunity to research their animal using non-fiction picture books and child-friendly websites.
4. Independent Writing – Have students write their animal information report using the appropriate prompt. Once finished, have the students share their work with the class.

Download to Start Writing Animal Information Texts

Use the Download button to choose between the editable Google Slides file or the easy-print PDF. Please note that you will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides file.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter collaborator.

Access More Informational Writing Resources Below!

Teach Starter has a wide range of informational writing resources to save you time and support your students’ learning! Click below to explore a few samples from our collection.

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Exploring Informational Texts Teaching Slides

Teach your students how to write an informational text using this detailed slideshow targeted at lower elementary school students.

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Build an Animal Fact File – Cut and Paste Worksheets

Use this set of 5 writing prompts to assess your students’ informative writing skills.

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Community Helper – Digital Report Writing Activity

Use this community helpers activity to model the purpose and structural elements of informational texts.