Writing Informative Texts with Supporting Details
Writing Informative Texts with Supporting Details Objective: Students will learn to write informative texts that introduce a topic, organize ideas clearly, and include facts and definitions to develop their points, directly addressing 5.W.8.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the purpose and features of informative writing.
- Identify and use supporting details to explain a topic.
- Organize information logically in written form.
Materials Needed
- Notebook or writing paper
- Pencils and erasers
- Example informative text (printed or digital)
- Graphic organizer for planning writing
Key Vocabulary
- Informative Text
- A type of writing that gives facts and information about a topic.
- Supporting Details
- Facts, examples, or explanations that help explain or prove the main idea.
- Organize
- To put ideas in a clear and sensible order.
Detailed Activities
Introduction to Informative Writing
- Read a short example of an informative text aloud together.
- Discuss the topic and identify the main idea and supporting details.
- Explain the importance of organizing ideas clearly.
Planning the Writing
- Choose a simple topic the student knows well, such as a favorite animal or hobby.
- Use the graphic organizer to list the main idea and three supporting details with facts or examples.
- Help the student arrange the details in a logical order.
Writing the Informative Text
- Guide the student to write an introduction that names the topic clearly.
- Write sentences that include the supporting details with facts or definitions.
- Encourage the student to use transition words to connect ideas, such as ‘first,’ ‘next,’ and ‘finally.’
- Review and revise the writing together for clarity and completeness.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Be patient and encourage your child to express their ideas clearly.
- Use simple and familiar topics to build confidence in writing.
- Praise efforts and improvements to keep your child motivated.
Assessment Questions
- Can your child name the topic of their writing clearly?
- Does the writing include at least three supporting details with facts or examples?
- Is the information organized in a clear order that makes sense?
Extension Ideas
- Have your child write an informative text about a different topic and compare the two.
- Encourage your child to add pictures or drawings that relate to their writing.
- Practice reading the informative text aloud to improve fluency and confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Help by asking guiding questions about the topic, such as ‘What do you like about it?’ or ‘Can you tell me a fact you know?’ Using a graphic organizer can also help organize ideas.
Encourage your child to think about the order that makes the most sense and use transition words like ‘first,’ ‘next,’ and ‘last’ to connect ideas.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students might confuse informative writing with opinion writing, so clarify the difference.
- Some students may list facts without organizing them clearly, emphasizing the importance of structure is key.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Provide sentence starters to help begin sentences.
- Allow oral responses or drawing as part of their planning.
- Work in short, manageable steps with frequent breaks.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage adding more detailed facts and definitions.
- Challenge them to include headings or subheadings.
- Ask them to include a concluding sentence that summarizes their text.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 10 minutes introducing and discussing the example text.
- Allow 15 minutes for planning and organizing ideas with the graphic organizer.
- Use 20 minutes for writing and reviewing the informative text.
Standards
- 5.W.8 — Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Printable Worksheet
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