Fox and Giraffe Informational Paragraph

Common Core Connection

This lesson is designed to meet the requirements of standard W1.2 where students create an informational piece of text. So, this requires being able to write a sentence, paraphrase information read, and really comprehend the text they are reading. Teacher support by scaffolding instruction and modeling are great tools that help students understand the expectations of this standard.

Lesson Overview

This is the second lesson in a series of three lesson using the text about foxes and giraffes.  I like to put the text I am going to use on a powerpoint, so I can zoom in and focus the learners attention on specific examples and read to them by pointing to the text on the Smart Board.

Students work in small group to create an informational paragraph as a class. Then they create one with their partner. In the previous lesson students analyzes text features, and in the next lesson they will revise this paragraph.

I like to move students often and keep them working in groups throughout the lesson. I have a video in the resources on both.

Introductory Activity

I project the lesson image on the board and ask the class to discuss with their partner what kind of things make up an informational paragraph. While they talk I am assessing their prior knowledge to determine how much extra support they might need in the lesson.

Then I share the lesson goal and the plan for the lesson. I ask the students to chant the lesson goal to reiterate the purpose of the lesson.