Writing Informative Texts: How-To Guide
Writing Informative Texts: How-To Guide Objective: Students will learn to write informative texts that clearly introduce a topic, organize ideas logically, and provide facts and definitions to help readers understand the topic.
Learning Objectives
- Understand what informative writing is and its purpose.
- Write a simple paragraph that introduces a topic and includes facts or definitions.
- Organize ideas in a logical order to help the reader understand.
Materials Needed
- Paper or writing journal
- Pencil and eraser
- Example of a simple how-to paragraph (provided by parent)
- Pictures or drawings related to a chosen topic (optional)
Key Vocabulary
- Informative Writing
- Writing that gives facts and information about a topic to help the reader learn.
- Topic Sentence
- The sentence that tells what the paragraph is about.
- Details
- Facts or examples that explain or support the topic sentence.
Detailed Activities
Introduction to Informative Writing
- Explain to your child that informative writing teaches others about a topic by sharing facts or how to do something.
- Read a short example of a how-to paragraph together, such as ‘How to Brush Your Teeth,’ pointing out the topic sentence and details.
- Discuss what makes the writing clear and helpful.
Choosing a Topic and Brainstorming
- Help your child choose a simple, familiar topic to write about, like ‘How to Make a Sandwich’ or ‘All About Dogs.’
- Ask your child to tell you some facts or steps about the topic.
- Write these ideas down together to organize them.
Writing the Informative Paragraph
- Guide your child to write a topic sentence that says what their paragraph will be about.
- Help them add 3-4 sentences with facts, details, or steps about the topic.
- Encourage your child to use words like ‘first,’ ‘next,’ or ‘for example’ to organize the information.
- Review the paragraph together and make simple edits for clarity.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This lesson focuses on Standard 3.W.7, which emphasizes writing informative texts that clearly present a topic with facts and definitions.
- Encourage your child to speak about their topic before writing to organize their thoughts.
- Be patient and offer lots of positive feedback; writing skills develop with practice.
Assessment Questions
- Can your child tell what the topic of their paragraph is?
- Does their writing include facts or steps that explain the topic?
- Is the information organized in a way that makes sense?
Extension Ideas
- Have your child draw pictures to accompany their informative paragraph and explain how the pictures relate to the text.
- Encourage your child to write another informative paragraph on a different topic to practice.
- Use simple graphic organizers to help your child plan their writing in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Help by asking guiding questions about the topic or sharing simple facts. You can also read a short text together to find information.
Use a simple list or graphic organizer to put ideas in order. Encourage using words like ‘first’ and ‘then’ to show sequence.
Explain that informative writing is different from stories but can be fun. You might start by writing about something they know well.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Children may confuse informative writing with storytelling and include personal opinions or fictional details.
- Students might write lists instead of full sentences or organized paragraphs.
- Some children may find it hard to stay on topic and include unrelated information.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Provide sentence starters like ‘This is about…’ or ‘First, you…’
- Use pictures or drawings to help explain the topic and organize ideas.
- Work together to write the paragraph orally before writing.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage adding more detailed facts or definitions.
- Introduce simple linking words such as ‘because,’ ‘also,’ and ‘therefore’ to connect ideas.
- Have them write multiple paragraphs or include a concluding sentence.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 10 minutes introducing informative writing and reading examples.
- Use 15 minutes for choosing a topic and brainstorming ideas together.
- Spend 20 minutes on writing the paragraph with support and review.
Standards
- 3.W.7 — Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Printable Worksheet
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