Lessons & Units :: Author's Purpose 3rd Grade Unit

Lesson 3: Distinguishing the Author’s Purpose

Lesson Plan

Learning Goal
Distinguish between different author’s purposes in texts with the same topic.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Direct Teaching Dog Passages, Example Direct Teaching Passages, Guided Practice School Passages, Example Guided Practice Passages, Independent Practice Water Splashing Festival Passages

  • Teacher Modeling

    will explain that several authors can write about the same topic, but for different purposes. I will read aloud three short passages about dogs. (See Direct Teaching Passages in Teacher and Student Materials below.) I will identify the author’s purpose in each passage. I will underline details in each passage that supports the author’s purpose. (Example is provided; see Direct Teaching Passage Answer Key below.)

  • Think Check

    Ask: How did I identify the author's purpose in the passages? Students should respond that you underlined details in the passage that gave you a clue as to why the author may have written the passage.

  • Guided Practice

    will read three short passages about school. We will identify the author’s purpose of each passage and underline the details in each passage that support the author’s purpose. (Passages and example are provided; see Guided Practice Passages and Answer Key below.)

  • Independent Practice

    will read three short paragraphs about the Water Splashing Festival. For each paragraph, you will identify the author’s purpose and underline text evidence that supports the purpose you chose. (Student Independent Practice is provided below.)

Build Student Vocabulary reinforcement

Tier 2 Word: reinforcement
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story "You can teach your dog many words with positive reinforcement using kind words and yummy treats."
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) Reinforcement means that you are trying to make something stronger. If you give your dog yummy treats as positive reinforcement for learning to sit, you are trying to strengthen the dog’s understanding of the word when you say it.
Students repeat the word Say the word reinforcement with me: reinforcement.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts If you reinforce a wall, you are strengthening it and making it stronger. Getting good grades will reinforce your belief that if you study you can succeed.
Students provide examples What kind of positive reinforcement might your teacher give you if you answer a question correctly in class? Start by saying, “If I answer a question correctly, my teacher might give me positive reinforcement by _________________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? Reinforcement.
Additional Vocabulary Words breeds, adoption

Build Student Background Knowledge

Before distributing the "Water Splashing Festival" paragraphs, explain that you are going to read a passage about an event that takes place in China. Show your students where China is on a map and explain that China has the largest population in the world. Just like in the United States of America, there are different cultures, language, and ethnicities in China. The majority of Chinese (92%) belong to the Han culture, but there are 56 other recognized minorities in the country. There are many cultures that overlap with surrounding countries. The Dai people in the passage are closely related to the people of Thailand and Laos, which are countries next to China.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

(To see all of the ReadWorks lessons aligned to your standards, click here.)

User Comments

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Submitted by antoniusrexemts_2426799 on 11/15/16

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Submitted by quiny on 11/23/14

These lesson are life saviors for the overworked teacher. Thank you for making these available. The model, guided and independent will enhance any classroom. The lexile levels and by grade are especially great since my scholars are rarely on grade level.

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Submitted by smithsh8 on 11/7/14

This is another great lesson for Author's Purpose!

Submitted by ddurr on 10/22/14

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Submitted by Jameelah on 9/19/13

This is exactly what I was looking for to teach author's purpose. Thank you for having this available.

Submitted by Christine Craft on 4/11/13

Teaching the three author's purposes' with the same passage is a very great idea!

Submitted by Janet Crespo on 3/16/13