DEVELOPING INFORMATIVE WRITING SKILLS UNIT PLAN - YEAR 3 AND YEAR 4

Lesson Plan 3: Informative Texts - Text Structure

English Writing Text Types Informative Writing

Disclaimer: This Starter Sheet should be regarded as a guide only. Teachers should make adjustments in accordance with the individual learning needs of
their students.

INTRODUCTION
DURATION
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify and explore
60 min the structure of informative texts.

REQUIRED RESOURCES LESSON PLAN

This lesson contains a link to an external video. Please watch the video prior to
presenting this lesson to ensure that the content is appropriate for your students.
View the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN4d76QP_MA

Tuning In
Watch the Informational Writing For Kids video on YouTube. After
watching, ask the students:

Why do people write informative texts?

TEACHING RESOURCE
Developing Informative Writing Skills
PowerPoint
A 19 slide editable PowerPoint template to
use when teaching your students about
the structure and language features of
informative texts.
What does 'non-fiction' mean?
What text features might you find in an informative text?
Teacher Instruction
Discuss the structure of informative texts, as outlined on slide 6 of the
Developing Informative Writing Skills PowerPoint. Read through the first
example text, Turtles, on slides 7-8. Subheadings have been added to
the text to assist the students in identifying the informative structure.
Read through the class activity, as outlined on slide 9. As a class, read
through the second example text, Owls, on slides 10-11. Encourage the
students to label the informative structure of the text as they are reading.
Discuss the answers on slide 12. Highlight the factual content of the two
texts, as well as the absence of any opinions.

Guided/Independent Learning
Choose a sequencing activity that best suits the chosen content focus of
the unit from the list on slide 13. These include texts about Roald Dahl,
TEACHING RESOURCE
Tyrannosaurus Rex and Thunderstorms. Read through the text and the
Sequencing Activity - Thunderstorms instructions for the sequencing activity together as a class.
(Informative Text)
Allow the students to work on the sequencing activity in small groups or
A sequencing task using an informative
pairs. Monitor and support the students as required.
text.
As a class, discuss the correct sequence of the informative text. Discuss
any techniques used by the students to help them sequence the text e.g.
topic sentences at the start of each paragraph.

Wrapping Up
Select a range of goals for the unit from the Goals - Writing (Middle) and
discuss these with the students. Allow the students to ask questions
about each goal and encourage them to suggest some success criteria
for each. Display these goals in an obvious place in the classroom for the
duration of the unit.

DIFFERENTIATION

Informative Texts - Text Structure Page 1 of 3

 Extending Students
Encourage students to peer tutor others who may need assistance with
the sequencing activity.

Supporting Students
Allow students to be supported by peer tutors during the sequencing
activity, or to work in a smaller group with a teacher or teacher aide.

TEACHING RESOURCE MONITORING STUDENT UNDERSTANDING

Sequencing Activity - Tyrannosaurus
Rex (Informative Text) used strategic whole class or individual questioning

A sequencing task using an informative observed student participation during learning activities
text. recorded student progress on a checklist
annotated student work samples
collected and reviewed student work samples
facilitated whole class or peer feedback sessions
encouraged student self-reflection
administered formal assessment tasks.

TEACHING RESOURCE
Sequencing Activity - Roald Dahl
(Informative Text)
A sequencing task using an informative
text.

CURRICULUM CODES
Australian Curriculum

ACELY1678 Identify the audience and purpose

of imaginative, informative and
persuasive
textsElaborationsidentifying the

ACELY1690 Identify characteristic features

used in imaginative, informative
and persuasive texts to meet

AC9E3LY03 Identify the audience and purpose

of imaginative, informative and
persuasive texts through

AC9E4LY03 Identify the characteristic features

used in imaginative, informative
and persuasive texts to

New South Wales Curriculum

EN2-7B Identifies and uses language forms

and features in their own writing
appropriate

Victorian Curriculum

Informative Texts - Text Structure Page 2 of 3

VCELA277 Identify features used in
imaginative, informative and
persuasive texts to meet the

Informative Texts - Text Structure Page 3 of 3