Introduce: How-To Text
From FreeReading
| Lesson Type: | Introduce |
| Grade: | K, 1, 2, 3 |
| Group Size: | Small group, large group, whole class |
| Length: | 20 minutes |
| Goal: | Given a how-to text, students will understand its purpose and be able to identify some of its generic features. |
Materials: Board or chart paper, a how-to text. Suggested reading: Peanut Butter and Jelly: A Play Rhyme by Nadine Bernard Westscoff, The Popcorn Book by Tomie de Paola, and Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle
What to Do
Prepare
Choose an example of a how-to text from one of the suggested books. You can also use instructions from a board game or children’s craft magazine, or even a simple recipe. Display the text on the board or chart paper.
Model/Instruct
1. Show students the sample how-to text and ask questions to engage their prior knowledge.
Why do you think the writer wrote this text? What information is being shared? How is the information organized? Have any of you ever seen this type of writing before? Where?
2. Explain the purpose of a how-to text.
This text is an example of a how-to text. The purpose of a how-to text is to teach the reader how to do something. The writer needs to know a lot about the topic that he or she will explain in the text.
3. Read the how-to text to the students and follow up with questions. As the students answer the questions, point to the part of the text where they find their answers
What is being explained in this text? Is it easy to understand? Why?
Practice
4. Explain the parts of a how-to text using the sample how-to text as a visual aid.
The first part of a how-to text states the topic and lists the materials that the reader will need. What is the topic of this text? What materials are listed here?
The next part of a how-to text includes the steps that tell the reader how to do the task. The steps must be explained clearly and in the correct order or sequence. The writer uses sequence words like first, next, then, and last to show the order of the steps.
Do you see any sequence words in this text? (If there aren’t any sequence words in your sample show the students how they could be added.)
Detail words help readers understand more clearly what to do at each step. Words like carefully, quickly, or slowly could be examples of detail words. Do you see any detail words in this text? (If there aren’t any detail words in your sample show the students how they could be added.)
5. Review the purpose of a how-to text and its characteristics.
Today we learned the purpose of a how-to text. Do we write a how-to text to tell a story or to teach how to do something? We also learned that a how-to text lists the materials needed, shows the steps, provides a clear sequence, and includes details.
6. Encourage students to brainstorm some things that they could teach somebody how to do.
Adjust
For Advanced Students:
When identifying the characteristics of a how-to text, ask these students to point them out in the text instead of showing them.
For Struggling Students:
Some students may have difficulty identifying the characteristics of a how-to text. In this case, clearly label or highlight each characteristic in the sample.
For ELL Students:
Provide these students with explicit instruction about the sequence words and ordinal numbers (first, second, etc.).
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Categories: Activity | Core | Writing