Lessons & Units :: Genre Studies: Informational Texts 1st Grade Unit

Lesson 1: Headings

Lesson Plan

A First Look at Animals: On the Farm

A First Look at Animals: On the Farm
Learning Goal
Explain that informational texts include headings that give the topic of a section or chapter.
Use a heading to make predictions about what a page or section is going to teach you.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Unit Example Chart, Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: A First Look at Animals: On the Farm by Diane James and Sara Lynn, chart paper, markers, informational books from the classroom or school library

  • Teacher Modeling

    will explain that one characteristic of informational books is that they have headings. I will add this to my Characteristics of Informational Books Chart (Example Chart is provided in Unit Teacher and Student Materials). I will explain that headings are titles or names of sections in a book that tell a reader what the section or page is going to be about. Headings can usually be found at the top of a page or section in bold. I will model identifying headings on pages 4 and 6 of A First Look at Animals: On the Farm by Diane James and Sara Lynn. I will read the headings aloud and predict that the sections are going to be about pigs (page 4) and goats (page 6). I will check the section for picture or textual clues to confirm that my prediction is true.

  • Think Check

    Ask: "How did I determine or predict what a section or page was going to be about?" Students should explain that you read the heading and used the information in the heading to make a prediction. Then, you checked the picture and text to make sure that you were correct.

  • Guided Practice

    will work together to identify the headings on pages 8 and 10 of A First Look at Animals: On the Farm and predict what each section is going to teach us. We will use picture and textual clues to confirm that the title introduces us to that topic. We will reflect that this informational text has headings, so we will add the title to our Characteristics of Informational Books Chart.

  • Independent Practice

    will use choose an informational book from your classroom or school library that includes headings for sections or chapters. You will identify the headings and predict what you will learn on that page or section. You will explain how you know your book is an informational book. Your teacher may add the title of your informational book to the Characteristics of Informational Books Chart. (Independent Practice Worksheet is provided.)

Build Student Vocabulary intelligent

Tier 2 Word: intelligent
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story “Pigs are very intelligent. Some people even keep them as pets.”
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) Intelligent means smart, bright, and clever. Someone who is intelligent is good at learning and understanding quickly. If the book says that pigs are very intelligent, it means that pigs are very smart animals!
Students repeat the word Say the word intelligent with me: intelligent.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts I know my students are all intelligent because they learn quickly and make lots of progress. I don’t think my dog is very intelligent–he never learns that it’s a bad idea to eat napkins, and he always feels sick afterward!
Students provide examples Can you describe someone who is intelligent? Start by saying, “Someone who is intelligent is _____________________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? intelligent
Additional Vocabulary Words delicate, steep

Build Student Background Knowledge

Before reading A First Look at Animals: On the Farm, ask students if they know what a “farm” is. Explain that a farm is a place where people plant food and raise animals to eat. Farmers have to get up early and work hard to take care of their animals and their fields. Years ago in the United States, many more people owned farms, because they had to grow their own food to eat. Today, food from farms is sent to markets and grocery stores, where we buy it without having to do any of the work. In other countries, some people still need to run their own farms to survive.

Texts & Materials

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