Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Part 2 Reading: Informational Text: How Reasons Support Key Points
Get an example of how to identify an author's main idea in a text on this site. Also, learn how to recognize supporting ideas to main ideas presented in a text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.2
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Question and Answer Books
Beginning writers work through a Writing Workshop format to create Question and Answer books. A series of mini-lessons, graphic organizers, possible texts, and samples of student work are all provided.
Tom Richey
Slide Share: Why Do Writers Write?
A slide show with nine slides explaining the author's purpose to persuade, inform, or entertain.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Math Journals Boost Real Learning
Discover how writing in a journal can boost your students reading skills when you read this article. This article sites ways to integrate writing with teaching math skills.
Read Works
Read Works: I Am a Robin
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text with a robin telling the story of his parents have raised him. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: The Helping List
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational passage shares a list of ways to be helpful. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes scaffolding for...
Read Works
Read Works: How to Draw a Map Passage & Question Set
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage explains how to draw a map. This passage reinforces essential reading comprehension skills. Opportunities for vocabulary acquisition are also included. Several questions...
Read Works
Read Works: So Many Kinds of Food!
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a little girl named Lisa who likes to eat many different kinds of foods. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: In the Night Passage & Question Set
[Free Registration/Login Required] This literary text passage shares a first person account of a cat and its night on the prowl. This passage reinforces essential reading comprehension skills. Opportunities for vocabulary acquisition are...
Utah Education Network
Uen: 1st Grade Act. 24: Interactive Writing
In this instructional activity, young scholars will listen to nonfiction books about items that sink and float. Students will participate in filling in words to fill in a teacher-created chart that is connected to the information. Young...
Read Works
Read Works: Explicit Information 1st Grade Unit
[Free Registration/Login Required] A two-lesson unit in which students learn how to identify explicit information in both fiction and non-fiction texts. The lessons utilize the books Frogs by Gail Gibbons and Stellaluna by Janell Cannon....
Read Works
Read Works: Grade 2: Three Lesson Unit: Author's Purpose
[Free Registration/Login Required] A series of three lesson plans designed to teach learners to identify author's purpose including to entertain, to inform, and to persuade. Lessons are based on the books The Adventures of Taxi Dog by...
University of South Florida
Fcat Express: Author's Purpose
Some author's purpose teaching ideas from a standardized test preparation site (Fourth Grade Reading Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test). Aligned to Florida standards, four ideas are provided including "Author's Grab Bag," "Author's...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Text Talk (Read Aloud)
This online lesson supports the language development and reading comprehension of kindergarten through second graders. Through the use of an innovative "Text talk," strategy, students will explain, develop, and expand upon story ideas....
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Pioneer Families [Pdf]
"Pioneer Families" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about pioneers who traveled west in wagon trains, the hardships they faced, and how they worked together to build communities. It is followed by questions which require...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Captain's Job [Pdf]
"The Captain's Job" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about a captain safely landing his plane in the Hudson River after birds had flown into the engines causing them to stop. It is followed by questions which require students...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The First Flyers [Pdf]
"The First Flyers" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about the Wright brothers and their obsession with flying. It is followed by questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it includes: determining main...
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: 25 Activities for Reading/writing Fun
Discover these exciting 25 activities that develop reading and writing skills while having fun. The activities are split for two different age groups.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Informational Text: Reading Response: Main Ideas & Details [Pdf]
This graphic organizer can be used with students when they read informational text. Students will write the main idea in a central oval and then write four details that support the main idea of this reproducible graphic organizer.
Read Works
Read Works: Focus on Scientists
[Free Registration/Login Required] This nonfiction article shares information about different types of scientists. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
Read Works
Read Works: The Four Seasons
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage shares information about the four seasons of the year. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and...
Read Works
Read Works: Learning About Your World
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about how the five senses help people learn about their world. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Light
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about natural and man-made things that give off light. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: How to See Sound
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text showing how to see sound waves. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.