Teaching Informational or Expository Texts in K and 1st Grade

Examples of Expository Text:

Informative texts

True fact books

Text books

Biographies

Newspapers

Magazines

Cookbooks

Dictionaries, thesauruses and encyclopedias

Websites (kids.nationalgeographic.com is a great example to show kids)

Tip From My Classroom:

I taught non fiction by focusing on specific topics. For kindergartners you can easily incorporate these skills in a unit on Apples, Pumpkins, George Washington, etc.

In 1st grade I had a week long unit on Inventors and a month long unit on Black History. Later, we used students acquired knowledge to create their own non-fiction book about Texas during a 2 week unit.

*I will post these units later this summer when I am no longer 9 months pregnant*

How to Begin:

Start whole group by visually comparing and contrasting the difference between narrative and expository texts. Display a variety of books from each genre and ask students to verbally describe what they notice. Guide them to notice the differences in titles, book covers, illustrations vs. photographs, etc. Point out/review story elements in fiction books: characters, setting, problems, solutions, etc.

This can be done strictly with verbal answers, using ‘pick-me-sticks’ or other tools to ensure all students are participating. Or you can make a class list, Anchor Chart, KWL chart or venn diagram comparing the two types of books.

Once students have a firm grasp on the different types of books remove the fiction books and focus on the features of informational/expository texts.

Point out the various features of the book including:

Illustrations, photographs, graphics, charts, and maps.

Glossary, index and table of contents

Headlines and subheads

Labels, italics and bold face words

Books to use:

In the beginning it’s best to choose books the children can relate to. Choose topics they’re interested in or directly connected to their lives. After they’ve grasped many of the concepts choose books that expand their knowledge and world view. Introduce books about other cultures, **

Owls by Gail Gibbons

Ice Cream: The Full Scoop by Gail Gibbons

Trains by Gail Gibbons

Weather Words and What They Mean by Gail Gibbons

Sharkopedia by Nancy Ellwood

National Geographic Readers: Great Migrations Elephants by Laura Marsh

Bread, Bread, Bread (Around the World Series) by Ann Morris

Abraham Lincoln by Wil Mara

George Washington Carver by Lynea Bowdish

Amelia Earhart by Wil Mara

Awesome Walruses (Science Vocabulary Readers) by Eric Charlesworth
Science Vocabulary Readers Set: Wild Weather by Liza Charlesworth

Insect (DK Eyewitness Books) by Laurence Mound