Writing Informative Paragraphs with Supporting Evidence
Writing Informative Paragraphs with Supporting Evidence Objective: Students will learn how to write a clear and well-organized informative paragraph that includes relevant facts and definitions to support the main idea.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the main idea in a piece of writing.
- Gather facts and details that support the main idea.
- Organize facts logically to write a clear informative paragraph.
Materials Needed
- Notebook or writing paper
- Pencil
- Example informative paragraph
- List of simple topics for writing
- Graphic organizer for paragraph planning
Key Vocabulary
- Informative Writing
- Writing that explains a topic clearly using facts and details.
- Main Idea
- The primary point or topic that the writing is about.
- Supporting Details
- Facts, examples, or explanations that explain or prove the main idea.
Detailed Activities
Understanding Informative Writing
- Read a short example paragraph about a familiar topic aloud together.
- Discuss the main idea and supporting details found in the example.
- Write down the main idea and list three supporting details as a group.
Planning Your Paragraph
- Choose a simple topic from the provided list (e.g., favorite animal, a holiday, or a sport).
- Use the graphic organizer to write the main idea in the center and list facts around it.
- Discuss how each fact supports the main idea.
Writing the Informative Paragraph
- Write a topic sentence that clearly states the main idea.
- Add 3-4 sentences using the facts gathered to support the main idea.
- End with a concluding sentence that summarizes the information.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Encourage your child to speak about the topic before writing to organize their thoughts.
- Provide gentle guidance in choosing facts that directly support the main idea to keep writing focused.
- Celebrate effort and progress to build confidence in writing skills.
Assessment Questions
- What is the main idea of your paragraph?
- Can you name three facts that support your main idea?
- How does your concluding sentence help finish your paragraph?
Extension Ideas
- Have your child write an additional informative paragraph about a new topic.
- Create an illustrated book of informative paragraphs on different topics.
- Practice turning spoken facts into written sentences during daily conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Help your child by asking questions about the topic or looking up simple facts together before writing.
Encourage your child to say the sentence aloud first, then write it down slowly. You can also write down what they say and have them copy it.
Focus on whether they have a clear main idea and supporting details. Perfect grammar is not necessary at this stage; the goal is clear communication.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may confuse informative writing with storytelling and add personal opinions instead of facts.
- Some students might write very short paragraphs without enough supporting details.
- Students might struggle to organize facts logically around the main idea.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Provide sentence starters or fill-in-the-blank organizers to help structure their writing.
- Allow oral responses before writing to build confidence.
- Use pictures or diagrams to help organize thoughts visually.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage adding more supporting details or interesting facts.
- Challenge them to use linking words like ‘because’, ‘for example’, or ‘in addition’.
- Have them write a second paragraph that compares or contrasts their topic with a related idea.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend the first 15 minutes reviewing the example and planning the paragraph.
- Use the next 20 minutes for writing, offering help when needed.
- Reserve the last 10 minutes for reviewing and discussing the written paragraph together.
Standards
- 7.W.2b — undefined
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