Unit 6:  Calling All Experts - Reading and Writing Nonfiction

Activity 2:  Structures of Nonfiction Texts (GLEs:  08, 14e, 19b, 19c, 50)

CC:  The teacher uses a variety of instructional strategies to introduce and review the structures of nonfiction texts. As texts are read aloud or silently, teachers point out the various ways authors present nonfiction information. Students practice skimming, scanning, and searching for key words that are characteristic of various structures:

• Description - adjectives that help readers visualize concepts

• Temporal sequence  - words that indicate the order of events (e.g. first, then, next)

• Compare/contrast  - words that tell how things are alike/unlike

• Cause/effect  - information on why things happen

• Problem/solution  - explanations about situations or problems, and possible remedies

Web Sites:

Nonfiction Texts

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/tricon/2005/handouts/nonfiction_text.pdf

CC:  Teachers facilitate lessons requiring students to point out and identify various print features, including italics, boldface print, headings/subheadings, and captions.

        Students also gain experience in interpreting timelines, charts, graphs, diagrams, and maps in the context of nonfiction reading.

Web Sites:

World Book Online

http://www.worldbookonline.com

Note: Teachers can utilize the "Educators Toolbox" on the home page of World Book Online to locate appropriate articles to use with this unit.  The Educators' Toolbox includes correlations from World Book content to the state curriculum correlations.

           In the Toolbox select grade 4 level and language arts for the subject.  Click Go.

           Browse through the list for the activity's targeted standards and benchmarks. 

          Click on the "materials correlated to this standard" (written in blue) to access a list of appropriate articles for students to use during this unit.

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