Curated OER
Hazardous Products Substitutes
Third graders write a hazardous products substitutes recipe book. In this Science lesson, 3rd graders identify words and symbols that indicate hazardous substances. Students investigate safe substitutes and write a recipe book to use at...
Curated OER
Compare and Contrast Two Settings in One Text
Look for the signal words! Scholars get both instruction and practice comparing and contrasting. Although it is completely scripted, it can also serve as a detailed outline. Demonstrate this as you read a passage (included) and search...
Curated OER
Connecting Kansas: Past and Present
Upper graders identify five forms of transportation and describe how Kansans are connected to the rest of the country using transportation and communication. They complete a graphic organizer for each type of text structure given to them...
Curated OER
Signal Words: But and Because
Use two of the most common signal words to teach your learners how to predict what might happen next while reading texts. Although there are many, but and because are the signal words selected for this sheet. Consider pointing out how...
Read Works
Signal Words in Expository Text
Signal words are one way that authors make the relationships between their ideas clear. Allow your learners the chance to investigate cause and effect in texts by identifying signal words. They locate and analyze cause-and-effect...
Curated OER
Signal Words Exercise 2
Learners complete 20 short answer questions using the signal words but and because in a story. This is related to the Harry Potter books but may be completed without reading them.
Curated OER
Signal Words Exercise: Harry Potter (But)
Have your class complete 20 sentences about Harry Potter that contain the signal words "but" or "therefore." If students have not read any Harry Potter books they can make something up that makes sense.
Curated OER
Signal Words: Exercise 3 Harry Potter
Practice predicting what will happen next in a reading by learning to identify words that give hints about what is going to happen in a story. Students complete 12 sentences that contain the word despite with information about events in...
Curated OER
Can You Get the Signal?
What is a signal word? Recognizing these words is an important step in both reading and writing formal text. Review a list of signal words (provided and organized into specific categories), and then have your class play a game to...
Curated OER
Identifying Opinions with Signal Words
First graders identify opinions within a text. In this language arts instructional activity, 1st graders discuss the definition of opinion. Students identify words that signal opinions and work together to identify opinions within the text.
Curated OER
Form an Opinion Based on Facts
Explore fact and opinion through higher level thinking and literacy. Kids listen to the beginning of A Picture Book of Helen Keller by David A. Adler and identify facts in the text. They follow along as the teacher models how to form an...
US Department of Education
Literacy Information and Communication System (Lincs): Signal Words
This resource page provides twelve long lists of signal words and what they mean. Covers signal words for continuation, change of direction, sequence, time, illustration, emphasis, cause of condition or result, spatial,...
CPALMS
Cpalms: Structures and Skeletons
In this interactive learning module, students read informational text about dinosaurs and examine paragraph structure. They will learn about different types of text structure for informational paragraphs, identify the most effective...
Other
Wasatch County School District: Types of Context Clues [Pdf]
This chart clearly defines types of context clues that help students master unfamiliar vocabulary. Potential signal words and examples are provided.
Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Part 2 Reading: Informational Text: Compare Text Structures
Compare the text structures in two nonfiction passages in this tutorial.
Read Works
Read Works: Cause and Effect 3rd Grade Unit
[Free Registration/Login Required] A three-lesson unit on cause and effect. Learners learn to use signal words to identify cause and effect relationships and to describe possible effects when given a cause in fiction. Students also learn...
Other
Educeri: Compare & Contrast the Overall Structure in Two or More Texts [Pdf]
A 10-page handout that explains clearly what text structure is and four different types, with accompanying examples. Different types are then presented along with two pieces of informational text and a modeled analysis, then two other...
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Teach Expository Text Structure to Facilitate Comprehension
Expository text can be challenging to young readers because of the unfamiliar concepts and vocabulary it presents. Discover ways to help your students analyze expository text structures and pull apart the text to uncover the main idea...
University of Oregon
Pizzaz, Creative Writing & Storytelling: Storytelling Boxes
This PIZZAZ lesson allows students the opportunity to engage in the small group task of audio-storytelling or video storytelling, after being given a shoebox filled with symbols and unique items.
Other
Prezi: Text Structure
Slideshow explores text structure and delves into cause and effect, compare/contrast, description, problem/solution, and more.