Writing Informative Texts: Research and Presentation
Writing Informative Texts: Research and Presentation Objective: Students will learn to gather information from provided sources and write an informative paragraph that clearly presents the topic with facts and definitions, addressing Common Core standard 7.W.9a.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how to use a source text to find important facts.
- Organize facts into a clear and simple informative paragraph.
- Use their own words to explain the topic accurately.
Materials Needed
- Notebook or lined paper
- Pencil and eraser
- Printed short article or passage on a simple topic (e.g., an animal, invention, or holiday)
- Highlighter or colored pencils
Key Vocabulary
- Informative Writing
- Writing that explains a topic clearly using facts and details.
- Source
- Where information comes from, such as a book, article, or website.
- Paragraph
- A group of sentences that talk about one main idea.
Detailed Activities
Discover and Write Informative Paragraphs
- Read the short article together with your child, helping them understand the main idea and key facts.
- Highlight or underline important facts and new vocabulary in the text.
- Discuss the main idea and facts found in the article to make sure your child understands them.
- Guide your child to write a paragraph using their own words that explains the topic, including at least three facts from the article.
- Review the paragraph together, checking for clear sentences and accurate information.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Encourage your child to use their own words rather than copying directly from the article to build understanding and writing skills.
- If your child struggles with writing, allow them to dictate their paragraph while you write it down, then encourage them to read it aloud.
- Keep the atmosphere positive and praise effort and progress to build confidence.
Assessment Questions
- What is the main idea of the article you read?
- Can you tell me three facts you learned about the topic?
- How did you organize your paragraph to explain the topic clearly?
Extension Ideas
- Have your child create a simple poster or drawing to accompany their informative paragraph.
- Encourage your child to research another short topic and write a new informative paragraph independently.
- Practice reading the paragraph aloud to improve fluency and confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Read the article together slowly and explain any difficult words or ideas. Use examples or pictures to make the ideas clearer.
Try letting them tell you the sentences first and then write them down. You can also make writing fun by using colorful pens or setting a timer for short writing bursts.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Children may copy sentences word-for-word instead of using their own words.
- Students might include opinions instead of focusing on facts.
- Some students may struggle to organize facts logically in a paragraph.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Provide sentence starters or a simple writing frame to support paragraph structure.
- Allow oral responses before writing.
- Use visual aids like graphic organizers to arrange facts.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage adding a concluding sentence to summarize their paragraph.
- Have them research and write about a more complex topic.
- Introduce the idea of including definitions of key terms within their writing.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend 10-15 minutes reading and discussing the article together.
- Allow 20-25 minutes for writing and reviewing the paragraph.
- Use the remaining time for reading aloud and reinforcing vocabulary.
Standards
- 7.W.9a — Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Printable Worksheet
Plan Your Own Lesson
Looking for a custom lesson plan? Try our Lesson Planning Generator — create standards-based plans for any topic, instantly!
Common Core Aligned Lesson Plans
Looking for another common core lesson? See all of the lesson plans here.
More Free Lesson Plans
We’re adding more every week! Check back soon or explore all our lesson plans here.
Leave a Reply