LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Using science texts to teach the organizational features of nonfiction

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=413

A lesson plan for grades 3–5 English Language Arts

Learn more

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

In this lesson, students explore the organizational features of nonfiction texts. In the introductory activity, students work in small groups to quickly gather information about a scientific topic related to teacher-prepared paragraph. Then, students compare the short paragraph format to a two-page spread that presents the same information as in the typed paragraph but uses organizational features, such as photographs, labels, sidebars. Next, students browse through a variety of nonfiction science books and then share their impressions of the layouts and organizational features of the texts. After a review of the previous lesson, students identify certain organizational features found in a teacher-created text and practice finding more of these features by exploring their science books. Then, students work together to create a class two-page spread to include information on their local environment that they gathered from a previous research project. Before students begin drawing and writing on butcher paper, the teacher provides time to plan the writings and drawings in their writing notebooks or on blank sheets of paper. Once students have planned, edited, and revised their parts for the two-page spread, the class will have to negotiate where to place each organizational feature on the butcher paper. After completing their part of the project, students evaluate their participation in the activity.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.01: Use metacognitive strategies to comprehend text (e.g., reread, read ahead, ask for help, adjust reading speed, question, paraphrase, retell).
    • Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, or viewing by:
      • setting a purpose.
      • previewing the text.
      • making predictions.
      • asking questions.
      • locating information for specific purposes.
      • making connections.
      • using story structure and text organization to comprehend.
  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.05: Compare and contrast printed and visual information (e.g., graphs, charts, maps).
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., personal narrative, short report, friendly letter, directions and instructions).

Grade 4

  • Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.01: Use metacognitive strategies to comprehend text and to clarify meaning of vocabulary (e.g., reread the text, consult other sources, ask for help, paraphrase, question).
  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.05: Analyze and integrate information from one or more sources to expand understanding of text including graphs, charts, and/or maps.
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., personal and imaginative narrative, research reports, learning logs, letters of request, letters of complaint).

Grade 5

  • Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.01: Use metacognitive strategies independently and flexibly to monitor comprehension and extend vocabulary (e.g., skim, scan, question).
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., clarification, essay, feature story, business letter).