Section 1
Why Do We Read Books That Teach Us?
Long, long ago, people learned new things by talking to each other. There were no books! Then people started to write things down so they could remember them. Over many years, people made informational texts — these are books, articles, and other writing that teach us true facts about the real world. Today, you can find informational texts everywhere — in your classroom, at the library, and even on a computer!
In first grade, you are ready to start reading these special texts. Sometimes a teacher, a parent, or a friend will help you. That help is called prompting and support. It means someone gives you a little push or hint so you can understand what you read.
A Very Long Time Ago
About 500 Years Ago
About 100 Years Ago
Today
The big question is: How can first graders learn to read texts that teach real facts? That is what this lesson is all about!
Section 2
Big Ideas About Informational Texts
Before you start reading, it helps to know a few big ideas. An informational text is different from a story book. A story book tells a made-up tale, but an informational text teaches you real facts. Let's look at four big ideas that will help you.
Real Facts, Not Make-Believe
Help Is Good!
Pictures and Words Work Together
Just Right for You
Key Takeaway
Section 3
Parts of an Informational Book
An informational book has special parts. Knowing these parts makes it much easier to read. Look at the picture below. It shows you the parts of a page in an informational book about frogs.
See how the page has a title at the top? The title tells you what the whole book is about. The heading tells you what that part of the page is about. The picture shows you what a frog looks like. The caption is a sentence under the picture that explains it. And the main text is where you read the facts. Knowing these parts helps you find information faster!
Section 4
How to Read an Informational Text
Reading an informational text is like going on a treasure hunt. You follow steps to find the facts! Here are the steps you can use. Remember, your teacher or a grown-up can help you with every step. That is the "prompting and support" part!
Steps to Read an Informational Text
- 1
Step 1 — Look at the Cover and Title
Before you read a single word inside, look at the cover. Read the title. Look at the picture on the cover. Ask yourself: "What do I think this book will teach me?" - 2
Step 2 — Flip Through the Pages
Turn the pages slowly. Look at the pictures, headings, and bold words. This gives your brain a sneak peek! - 3
Step 3 — Read Slowly and Point
Use your finger to point to each word as you read. If a word is hard, ask your helper. They might say, "Sound it out!" or "Look at the picture for a clue." - 4
Step 4 — Stop and Think
After each page, stop. Ask yourself: "What did I just learn?" Your teacher might ask you a question like, "What was the main idea?" That is prompting! - 5
Step 5 — Tell Someone What You Learned
When you are done, try to tell a friend or grown-up one or two facts you learned. If you can say it out loud, you really understand it!
Key Takeaway
Section 5
Helpful Text Features
Informational texts have special text features that storybooks usually do not have. Text features are like road signs — they guide you. Let's learn about the most important ones.
The table of contents is at the front of the book. It lists all the parts so you can find what you want. Headings are like titles for each part of the page. Bold words are printed in thick, dark letters — they are important words to know. Pictures and photos show you what things look like. Labels point to parts of a picture and name them. And a glossary at the back of the book tells you what tricky words mean.
The spectrum bar at the bottom of the picture reminds us that a "just right" text is not too easy and not too hard. When it is just right, you can read most of it, and a helper can help with the rest. That is "appropriately complex for grade 1"!
Section 6
Let's Try It Together!
Now let's practice reading an informational text together. Imagine you have a short text about penguins. Read it below, and we will go through the steps together.
Penguins
Reading the Penguin Text Step by Step
- 1
Step 1 — Read the Title
The title is "Penguins." Now we know this text is about penguins! - 2
Step 2 — Read Slowly
We point to each word: "Penguins… are… birds… but… they… cannot… fly." Good job! We take it one word at a time. - 3
Step 3 — Notice the Bold Words
We see Penguins and chicks in bold. These are important words. "Chicks" means baby penguins. - 4
Step 4 — Stop and Think
Let's ask: "What did I learn?" We learned that penguins are birds that swim but cannot fly. We also learned that baby penguins are called chicks. - 5
Step 5 — Share a Fact
We can tell a friend: "Did you know penguins are birds that cannot fly? They swim instead!" Great work! 🎉
Section 7
What Helps and What Is Hard
Some things make reading informational texts easier, and some things make it harder. Let's compare! The table below shows what helps you and what can be tricky.
| What Helps You 😊 | What Can Be Tricky 🤔 |
|---|---|
| Lots of pictures and photos | Pages with only words and no pictures |
| Short sentences | Long, hard sentences |
| Words you already know | New words you have never seen |
| A teacher asking you questions | Reading all alone with no help |
| Bold words and labels | No bold words or labels |
| A topic you like (animals, space, etc.) | A topic that is new to you |
Remember, even when something is tricky, asking for help is always a great idea. That is exactly what "with prompting and support" means. Your teacher, a family member, or even a classmate can be your reading helper.
Key Takeaway
Section 8
Keep Growing as a Reader!
Right now in first grade, you read informational texts with help. As you practice more, you will need less and less help. Look at how you will grow!
| Grade | What You Can Do |
|---|---|
| Grade 1 (You!) | Read informational texts with help from a teacher or grown-up. Use pictures and text features. |
| Grade 2 | Read informational texts that are a bit harder. Need less help from others. |
| Grade 3 and Up | Read harder informational texts more on your own. You can find facts, compare ideas, and explain what you learned. |
Every time you read, your brain gets a little stronger. It is like exercising a muscle! The more you practice reading informational texts now, the easier it will be later. Keep reading, keep asking questions, and keep being curious about the world!
Section 9
Practice Time!
Try these questions. Think carefully. If you need help, that is okay! Click the button to see the answer.
Question 1: Problem 1 — What Do You Know?
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Question 2: Problem 2 — Find the Feature
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Question 3: Problem 3 — Think About It
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Question 4: Problem 4 — Use What You Learned
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Question 5: Problem 5 — Big Thinking
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Summary
What We Learned
Summary
In this lesson, you learned that an informational text is writing that teaches you real facts about the world. You discovered important text features like the title, headings, bold words, pictures, labels, captions, and the glossary. These features help you find and understand information.
You also learned five steps for reading: look at the cover, flip through the pages, read slowly and point, stop and think, and tell someone what you learned. Most importantly, you learned that getting prompting and support from a teacher or grown-up is a great thing! It helps you read texts that are just right for first grade — not too easy and not too hard. Keep reading, keep asking questions, and your reading skills will grow every single day! 🎉📚