Reading Nonfiction with Purpose: Informational Text Strategies

Informational reading asks something different of students than a story does. Instead of following characters through a plot, readers have to navigate headings and diagrams, sort fact from opinion, notice why an author is writing, and recognize how a piece of nonfiction is organized. This hub brings together classroom-tested lessons for each of these skills, plus real nonfiction texts to put them into practice.

Reading Nonfiction with Purpose: Informational Text Strategies
4th–6thGrade Level
14Lessons Included
RI.4–6CCSS Focus Strand
Video + PrintableFormat
Informational Text Workshop

What You'll Learn

Across this workshop, you'll be equipped to teach students to:

recognize and use nonfiction text features
distinguish fact from opinion
identify an author's purpose for writing
read and build graphic organizers
recognize common informational text structures
apply these skills to real nonfiction texts
Start Here

Basics

Five foundational lessons — text features, fact vs. opinion, author's purpose, graphic organizers, and a real text to put them together.

Learning about Text Features
Teach students how headings, captions, diagrams, and other text features support comprehension in nonfiction. This lesson includes a mini‑lesson, anchor charts, and activities that help readers navigate informational text with confidence.
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Teaching Fact vs. Opinion in Informational Text
Help students distinguish verifiable facts from opinion statements using real‑world examples and kid‑friendly practice. This lesson includes a mini‑lesson, organizers, and activities that strengthen critical thinking in informational reading.
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Author's Purpose: Four Teaching Activities
Show students how to identify an author’s purpose using engaging activities, real‑world texts, and hands‑on organizers. This lesson goes beyond PIE to help readers analyze intent and apply the skill in their own writing.
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Teaching Students How to Read Graphic Organizers
Help students understand how Venn diagrams, flow charts, timelines, and other organizers actually work. This lesson teaches readers to interpret visual information accurately with clear examples, guided practice, and printable organizers that strengthen comprehension.
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Ten Interesting Facts... The American Civil War
Teach students how to pull evidence from maps, charts, timelines, and tables using a Civil War–themed magazine page. This lesson helps readers interpret text features and turn them into clear, accurate evidence‑based sentences.
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Gay Miller
Copyright © Book Units Teacher 2000–Present