1. Independent Reading Assignment
Non-Fiction Reading
Independent Reading Assignment

2. What’s special about non-fiction?
It addresses students’ interests and questions
It develops and expands vocabulary
It builds knowledge of the world
It is everywhere!

3. Examples of non-fiction texts
announcements
grocery list
Informational books
schedule
magazine articles
Memo
telephone messages
letters
teachers' manuals
recipes
newspaper

4. For this project, you will be focused on reading 3 non-fiction books for March & April!

5. Understanding non-fiction Text
The five most common non-fiction text structures include:
Description
Sequence
Comparison and contrast
Cause and effect
Problem solution

6. non-fiction Text: Description
Presents a topic and provides details that help readers understand characteristics of a person, place, thing, topic, or idea.
Example: Bats by Gail Gibbons, Amazing Snakes by Richard Parsons, and Ant Cities by Arthur Dorros.

7. non-fiction Text: Sequence
Putting facts, events, or concepts in their order of occurrence.
Signal words, like first, second, third, then, next, last, before, after, and finally indicate order of events.
Authors use sequence when giving directions for an experiment or explaining the stages in an animal’s life cycle.

8. non-fiction Text: Comparison and Contrast
Identification of similarities and differences between facts, concepts and people.
Signal words include same as, alike, similar to, resembles, compared to, different from, unlike, but, and yet.
For example, authors use this structure to compare and contrast crocodiles and alligators or life in ancient times with life today. VS

9. non-fiction Text: Cause and Effect
Description of cause and the resulting effects.
Cause and effect is often signaled by if, so, so that, because of, as a result of, since, in order to, and the words cause and effect.
For example, when authors explain the effects of an oil spill or the reasons for animal extinction they use this structure.

10. non-fiction Text: Problem and Solution
Shows the development of a problem and its solution.
Signal words include problem, solution, because, cause, since, as a result, and so that.
For example, authors use this structure to explain why inventions are created, why money was invented, or why you should buy a particular product.

11. Text Features Help Students Understand non-fiction Text11

12. What are text features?
Text features to help the reader better understand what they have read.
Text features provide additional information.
Text features help the reader visualize the text. 12

13. Table of Contents Lists the major parts of a book with page numbers.
Where do find this in a non-fiction book?
Lists the major parts of a book with page numbers.
It outlines the main topics or main points.
Readers can use the table of contents to help locate information and see how everything is organized.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: All About Animals
Animal Adaptations ……..Page 1
Animal Food……….……..Page 2
Animal Habitats . ………..Page 3
Animal Homes ..……….…Page 4
Chapter 2: All About Plants
Photosynthesis ………….Page 5
Types of Plants ………….Page 6
Where would a reader find information about where an animal lives? 13

14. Index
Where is this located?
Is an alphabetical listing of the key names, terms, events, and topics with page numbers.
Readers use the index to help find pages that contain information they are looking for. A
Abu Simbel, temple of, p73
Acadia, Canada,
Acid rain, 396, c396-c397,
Animal Adaptations p1
Animal Food p2
Animal Habitats p3
Animal Homes p5
Where would a reader find information in the text about acid rain? 14

15. A Glossary is like a mini dictionary it is always found where?
A list of key terms in alphabetical order.
Each key word is defined-gives meaning.
Sometimes a glossary also tells you how to pronounce a word.
Readers use the glossary to help them better learn and understand the subject. A
Acid rain (AS ihd rayn) rain that carries certain kind of pollution.
Adapt (uh DAPT) to change in order to survive in new environments
How would the glossary help the reader understand text about animal adaptations? 15

16. Titles Titles tell the reader the main idea of the text.
When should you read the title?
Titles tell the reader the main idea of the text.
Titles help the reader by letting them know what they are about to read.
Titles focus the reader on a topic so they can make connections between what they already know and the text.
What do the titles of the articles in these newspapers tell you? 16

17. Another word for subheading is sub_____
Can be found _________ the title or main heading.
Subheadings
Helpful Ants
Although ants are frustrating when they get in homes, ants do help the environment. They help control the population of damaging pests such as termites.
Types of Ants
Types of ants include fire ants, which cause a painful sting, and carpenter ants, which damage wood structures while nest building. Other types of ants include honey, pharaoh, house, Argentine, and the thief ant.
Subheadings divide the text into sections.
Subheadings tell the main idea of each section.
They are printed in large or bold type to make them stand out.
Subheadings help the reader to locate information in the text by telling them where to look. 17

18. Text (Bold, Color, & Italics)
How do the words in italics help the reader understand the text?
Text (Bold, Color, & Italics)
The style and color of the text sends the reader signals about how to read the content.
Text in italics is used in picture captions, book titles, foreign language, p, and to emphasize..
Text in bold, color, or italics draw the readers attention to important information.
The Wetlands of the South
Why are the South’s wetlands so important?
The Okefenokee (oh kuh fuh NOH kee) Swamp is a large wetland in the South. A wetland is a place where the ground is soaked with water for at least part of the year. 18

19. Photographs Illustrations
How might these photos help the reader understand the text?
Photographs Illustrations
Photos and illustrations help the reader picture the information.
They give additional information.
They work with the words and headings to help teach material.
Used to explain difficult sections. 19

20. How does this caption help the reader understand the picture?
Captions
How does this caption help the reader understand the picture?
A caption explains a picture or illustration.
Captions help the reader understand information that may or may not be in the text.
Photo by MARCIN SZCZEPANSKI
These gold coins were found on the ocean floor! 20

21. What is the MAIN purpose of the textbox below—what color is it?
A textbox can include interesting facts or important information the author wants the reader to know.
Textboxes help readers understand by creating interest or emphasizing important information.
The textboxes above asks the reader a question. 21

22. Maps
How would a map of the United States help the reader understand an article about Texas?
Maps are drawings that show the basic shape of the land and other bodies of water, names of places.
Help reader picture or visualize where things are.
They help the reader understand where an event happens.
They help the reader understand how far away an event took place. 22

23. How could this diagram help the reader understand volcanoes?
Diagrams
A diagram is a drawing that shows or explains something.
To understand a diagram the reader should read the titles, labels, captions, and numbered parts.
Diagrams help the reader understand steps, how objects are made, or information in the text.
How could this diagram help the reader understand volcanoes? 23

24. Tables Tables organize large amounts of information in a small space.
Tables help the reader compare information in the text.
How would a table about volcano eruptions help the reader understand volcanoes? 24

25. Timelines
Timelines show important events in chronological order or time order.
Timelines help the reader better understand how one event caused or effected another event.
How would a timeline help a reader understand why some older people aren’t knowledgeable about computers? 25

26. What text features can YOU find?26

27. Reading non-fiction is different than reading fiction – so you will need to use different reading strategies!

28. non-fiction Reading Strategy: Read Around the Text
Predict by skimming the text

29. Look at the pictures.
What ideas
are being
presented?

30. Look at the captions and read them.

31. Look at the maps, charts, bolded phrases and graphs.
Discuss what
information
they present.

32. Look at the titles and headings.
What is the big idea?

33. Read the first and last lines of each paragraph for more information.

34. Ask questions. Give yourself a reason to read.?

35. Read around the Text
Look at the pictures. What ideas are being presented?
Look at the pictures. What ideas are being presented?
Look at the pictures. What ideas are being presented?
Look at the pictures. What ideas are being presented?
Look at the pictures. What ideas are being presented?
Look at the pictures. What ideas are being presented?
Look at the pictures. What ideas are being presented?
Ask questions. Give yourself a reason to read.
Ask questions. Give yourself a reason to read.
Ask questions. Give yourself a reason to read.
Look at the captions and read them.
Look at the captions and read them.
Look at the captions and read them.
Look at the captions and read them.
Look at the captions and read them.
Look at the captions and read them.
Look at the captions and read them.
Read the first and last lines of each paragraph for more information.
Read the first and last lines of each paragraph for more information.
Read the first and last lines of each paragraph for more information.
Read the first and last lines of each paragraph for more information.
Look at the maps, charts, bolded phrases and graphs. Discuss what information they present.
Look at the maps, charts, bolded phrases and graphs. Discuss what information they present.
Look at the maps, charts, bolded phrases and graphs. Discuss what information they present.
Look at the maps, charts, bolded phrases and graphs. Discuss what information they present.
Look at the maps, charts, bolded phrases and graphs. Discuss what information they present.
Look at the maps, charts, bolded phrases and graphs. Discuss what information they present.
Look at the titles and headings. What is the big idea?
Look at the titles and headings. What is the big idea?
Look at the titles and headings. What is the big idea?
Look at the titles and headings. What is the big idea?
Look at the titles and headings. What is the big idea?

36. Reading Strategies for non-fiction Books
Review Table of Contents for the types of information found in the book
Read the titles and subtitles to know what each section will be about
Look for bold words that will appear in the glossary
Read important information that is placed in boxes

37. Reading Strategies for non-fiction Books (cont’d)
Look at the photographs or drawings and read their captions
Read the captions and labels on diagrams, drawings, charts and graphs