Workshop informative piece — 'A ___ is a ___ that ___'

Mentor-text examination: read an informational mentor text. Discuss: what does this writer want us to KNOW?

• Model the 'this is informative' identification
• Distinguish from fiction

An INFORMATIVE piece teaches the reader something. It's about FACTS, not feelings. Watch the frame: 'A ___ is a ___ that ___.' First blank: topic. Second blank: category. Third blank: a fact. Example: 'A dolphin is a mammal that lives in the ocean.'

• Three parts: ladybug (topic), bug (category), red-wings (fact).

  model 'A ladybug is a bug that has red wings with black spots.'

  prompt Teacher's informative piece.
• Not 'a dog is cute' — that's opinion. INFORMATIVE means fact.

  model 'A dog is an animal that wags its tail when happy.'

  prompt Try orally: 'A dog is a ___ that ___.'

• What's the difference between opinion and informative?
• Try the frame: 'A school is a ___ that ___.'
• Tell a partner one fact about your favorite animal.

M-K-S-WR-15-A Chart Physical / non-image

Anchor chart 'My Informative Piece'. Sentence frame in large print. Three filled-in examples: 'A dolphin is a mammal that lives in the ocean.' / 'A doctor is a helper that takes care of sick people.' / 'A bicycle is a vehicle that has two wheels.' Each example color-coded: topic/category/fact.

M-K-S-WR-15-B Chart

Two-column chart. Left OPINION: 'My favorite color is blue because the sky is blue' (heart icon). Right INFORMATIVE: 'A dolphin is a mammal that lives in the ocean' (book icon). Caption: 'OPINION tells what I THINK. INFORMATIVE tells what I KNOW.'

• Independent workshop: draft your informative piece using the frame.

  scaffold Topic-choice menu (favorite animal, family member, hobby).
• Add illustration that supports the fact.

  scaffold Reference book available.
• Conference with teacher: is your third blank a FACT or an opinion?

  scaffold Teacher conferring rotation.

• Share from author's chair.
• Self-check: my third blank is a FACT (not an opinion).

• Three children share
• Class applauds

• Tell a family member one fact you know. Practice in the 'A ___ is a ___ that ___' frame.