LESSON TWO: Clarifying Understanding in Nonfiction Text
LESSON DESCRIPTION
The student uses details from the text to ask questions to clarify understanding.
GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS ADDRESSED
R3C Develop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate nonfiction from a variety of cultures and times: Text elements
LESSON MATERIALS
§ Sources of Literature
o None
§ Supplies
o Nonfiction reading material such as Time for Kids or Scholastic News
o Challenging nonfiction passage for teacher to read aloud, maybe download
o Paper and pencil
§ Handouts provided
§ Words to know
o nonfiction
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Students generate one question to clarify understanding of the story.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. Read a short challenging nonfiction story to the class, then ask the class if during reading they had trouble understanding it. Ask, “What can you do to help you understand what you have read?”
2. Read a grade-appropriate nonfiction passage to the class. As you read do “think aloud” questions. As you come to details, “think aloud” how each detail helps answer your question or generates a new question. For example, select a story from Time for Kids or other nonfiction classroom magazine.
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Questions for Students |
What is the main idea? After hearing the passage what do you think _________ means? |
3. Read aloud the bartering story passage. At appropriate intervals stop as students generate questions that clarify details to a partner or at their tables.
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Suggestion |
Students save the bartering story passage for independent practice in Lesson Three. |
4. Students independently write one question about the story that would help clarify their understanding.