Standard 2: Reading Informational Text

Explore the history and importance of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn the history and importance of Thomas Jefferson as a representative of the United States with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Explore the history and importance of the Supreme Court building as a symbol of the U.S. with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Discover the history and importance of the Declaration of Independence as a symbol of the United States with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Discover the history and importance of the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of the United States with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Explore the history and importance of the White House as a symbol of the United States with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Explore the history and importance of Rosa Parks as a famous person who represents the United States with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Explore the history and importance of the Florida Capital Buildings as a symbol of Florida with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn about the history and importance of the Florida Constitution as a symbol of Florida with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Explore the history and importance of Andrew Jackson and how he represents Florida with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn about the history and importance of Martin Luther King Jr Day with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn about the history and importance of Patriot Day with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Explore the history and importance of Constitution Day with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn about the history and importance of Celebrate Freedom Week with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Discover the history and importance of Veterans Day with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Discover the history and importance of the U.S. Capitol building as a symbol of the United States with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Discover the history and significance of Everglades National Park and why it is a symbol of Florida with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn about the history and importance of Independence Day in the United States of America with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Students will explore the division of a square into equal parts in multiple ways and interpret tally marks within a table to help a city develop a plan to inspect roadways after a hurricane using drones.

This is an open-ended engineering design lesson where students will develop a model to help them solve a problem. There are no “right” answers as the lesson is focused on the process of developing a solution and the skills and reasoning behind the process. Students should be given the freedom to interpret the problem and parameters in unique ways to pursue their own lines of thinking in producing a solution.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will explore Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the basics on how generative AI models use Large Language Models (LLMs) and Natural Language Processing NLP to generate outputs. This K-3 lesson is an integrated Computer Science, ELA and Math lesson designed for application of math and ELA content knowledge while exploring and using computational thinking to understand how generative AI works, making cross-curricular connections to understand emerging technologies.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will continue learning about governments, while identifying the author’s purpose in the text, What is a Government? by Baron Bedesky. Students will learn about ways government leaders responsibly make and enforce laws to maintain order, while keeping people safe. Additionally, students identify responsible citizenship at the local and state level. This is lesson 6 of a 6-lesson unit plan based on this text.

This unit will support students as they explain why people form governments, the role of laws in government, the impact of government on daily life, and the ways the government protects the rights and liberty of American citizens. Students will engage in a read aloud of the text, What is a Government?, spread out over several lessons, emphasizing text features, vocabulary, central idea, and author’s purpose. In addition, the teacher will facilitate research, student presentations, expository writing, artwork, computer science, and identifying Florida symbols to help students solidify their interpretation as to why people form governments.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will build background knowledge about the United States government and become familiar with the vocabulary words in the text. Students will use the cover, title page, and photographs to discuss how the text features in What is a Government? by Baron Bedesky add meaning to the text. This is lesson 1 of a 6-lesson unit plan based on this text.

This unit will support students as they explain why people form governments, the role of laws in government, the impact of government on daily life, and the ways the government protects the rights and liberty of American citizens. Students will engage in a read aloud of the text, What is Government, spread out over several lessons, emphasizing text features, vocabulary, central idea, and author’s purpose.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson #5 in the text unit series for We the Kids by David Catrow. In small groups, students will use the KWL chart that has been filled in throughout the unit to support them in identifying the central idea and relevant details from the Preamble of the United States Constitution. Small groups will then share their retelling through a presentation (act out, posterboard, etc.)

This unit will help students develop the meaning of the Preamble as part of the Constitution of the United States and its direct effect on their daily lives. Students will engage in various activities such as debating parts of the Preamble and complete a play interpreting patriotism. Throughout the unit students will have to identify and interpret vocabulary, analyze the provided text, and demonstrate an understanding of the Preamble by providing relevant details. The teacher’s role in this unit will be to support their students' knowledge of the Preamble by facilitating research, reviewing student writing, and work.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will read excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. They will use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words and explain the author’s perspective about the Founders and their reasons for seeking independence in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will use the information from lesson 1 and the internet to conduct research on the Everglades to illustrate a book about Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the Everglades for children ages 5-6. This is lesson 2 of 3 in a mini-unit integrating civics and English Language Arts.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will use the information from lesson 1 and their research from lesson 2 to continue to illustrate a book about Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the Everglades for children ages 5-6.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will read informational text about Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) as well as the Everglades. Students will annotate and summarize the text using a summarizing strategy. Then they will complete a graphic organizer to organize the information for their children's book. This is lesson 1 of 3 in a mini-unit integrating civics and English Language Arts.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, teachers will engage students in learning about the naturalization process and how becoming a United States citizen gives you the right to participate and be part of a Constitutional Republic while focusing on a The Congress of the United States' central idea and relevant details as well as text features including headings, photographs, and captions.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will use the central idea and relevant details from a section of the text The Congress of the United States to explain the role laws play in government. Students will also identify and explain how the text features in the book help convey how Congress creates laws.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson can be used with the text The Congress of the United States, by Christine Taylor-Butler.

Students will identify how the United States government is founded on the principals of a constitutional republic.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will participate in research to describe how the Statue of Liberty is a symbol that represents the United States. Students will use a graphic organizer to write facts about the Statue of Liberty and take notes using details gathered from photographs and other text and graphic features, which will be creatively interwoven into a drawing of the Statue of Liberty utilizing a variety of materials and techniques.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will participate in digital research, explain how text features contribute to the meaning of the text, use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words, and incorporate multimedia to enhance their written work in this integrated lesson plan. Using two sections from an Interactive Research Page, students will learn about Marjory Stoneman Douglas, her contributions as an environmentalist, and why she is an individual who represents Florida.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will read the text Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton and use textual evidence to explain why governments might create and enforce laws to protect bee species, in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

In lesson 5 of a 6-lesson unit plan based on What Is a Government? by Baron Bedesky, students will revisit the relevant details that support the central idea, the government helps keep people safe, from lesson #4. Students will use the relevant details to draft personal narrative writing which identifies how the government helps keeps them safe and create a collage that reinforces their writing.

This unit will support students as they explain why people form governments, the role of laws in government, the impact of government on daily life, and the ways the government protects the rights and liberty of American citizens. Students will engage in a read aloud of the text, What is Government, spread out over several lessons, emphasizing text features, vocabulary, central idea, and author’s purpose. In addition, the teacher will facilitate research, student presentations, expository writing, artwork, computer science, and identifying Florida symbols to help students solidify their interpretation as to why people form governments.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students listen to a book about Thomas Jefferson and identify relevant details related to important events in his life. This is part one of a four-part Civics and Coding integrated series.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will identify the central idea and relevant details in a passage from What Is a Government? By Baron Bedesky, in this lesson plan. They will  draw a picture to match the relevant details and central idea written in their journal/graphic organizer. Students will share their work, explaining how the government positively impacts their daily life. 

This lesson focuses on pages 8-11 and is lesson #4 of a 6 lesson unit plan based on this text.

This unit will support students as they explain why people form governments, the role of laws in government, the impact of government on daily life, and the ways the government protects the rights and liberty of American citizens. Students will engage in a read aloud of the text, What is Government, spread out over several lessons, emphasizing text features, vocabulary, central idea, and author’s purpose. In addition, the teacher will facilitate research, student presentations, expository writing, artwork, computer science, and identifying Florida symbols to help students solidify their interpretation as to why people form governments.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will use text features to help understand and explain the meaning of academic vocabulary from What Is a Government? by Baron Bedesky in this lesson plan. Students will read a section of the text about the role of laws and create a drawing of text vocabulary that includes text features. This is lesson 2 of a 6-lesson unit plan based on this text.

This unit will support students as they explain why people form governments, the role of laws in government, the impact of government on daily life, and the ways the government protects the rights and liberty of American citizens. Students will engage in a read aloud of the text, What is Government, spread out over several lessons, emphasizing text features, vocabulary, central idea, and author’s purpose. In addition, the teacher will facilitate research, student presentations, expository writing, artwork, computer science, and identifying Florida symbols to help students solidify their interpretation as to why people form governments.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson is Part 2 in a 2-part Integrated Civics Unit. Students will use their expository writing from United States Symbols: The U.S. Capitol Part 1 to plan, write, and publish a Scratch coding program. With support from the teacher and peers, students will use one sprite, images, narration, and backdrops to explain why the U.S. Capitol is a symbol that represents the United States.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will participate in research to describe why the U.S. Capitol is a symbol that represents the United States. Students will use a graphic organizer to write facts about the U.S. Capitol and take notes about the building using details gathered from photographs and other text and graphic features, which will be used to create a multimedia presentation showcasing their learning.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will participate in research to describe why the White House is a symbol that represents the United States. Students will use a graphic organizer to write facts about the White House and take notes about the building using details gathered from photographs and other text and graphic features, which will be used to create a multimedia presentation showcasing their learning.

Type: Lesson Plan

This story is an informational text that is sure to get the attention of any second grader. The author takes the reader around the world to examine different traditions children have when they lose a tooth. A series discussion questions are provided along with practice on text features and author's purpose. Also included is a culminating writing task along with a rubric for scoring.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will receive an introduction to nonfiction text features and their purpose. They will search for a variety of text features in nonfiction books and test their understanding with an assessment.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will work with teacher and peer support on an informational text about whales to study the text features and determine the central idea. Students will use information from the text to complete a brainstorming organizer to prepare to write an expository paragraph. In the end, through this scaffolded practice, students will become Ace High Flying Writers!

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will take their research and turn it into an expository writing piece about ants. They will learn about how to structure a five paragraph text and what needs to be present in each paragraph. Students will take this text through the writing process, ending with a published piece that they can share with the class.

Type: Lesson Plan

This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of life cycles, the understanding that all living things have basic needs, a knowledge of habitats and practice working with money as they build and experiment with containers to meet the water needs of bean plants in all stages of their life cycle. It is not intended as an initial introduction to these concepts.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this model eliciting activity (MEA), students are asked to help the International Olympic Committee rank prospective host cities for upcoming Summer Olympic Games. Students are provided with data about a list of applicant cities and then must rank the cities and write a proposal to the IOC explaining their rankings. At the end of the MEA, the students will write an opinion piece for the International Olympic Committee that tells their final decision about which city should be the next host of the Summer Olympic Games.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Type: Lesson Plan

This is part three of a three-part series. This lesson demonstrates how students can use text features to locate information relating to the different types of precipitation. The students will use text features to gather information to describe when rain, snow, hail, and sleet occur. Students will share the information they have learned throughout the series by creating a poster.

For parts one and two, see CPALMS Resources ID#s 36797 and 38864.

Type: Lesson Plan

This part two of a three-part series in which students use informational texts and text features to locate information relating to the different types of precipitation. The students will use informational text features to gather information to describe the events that cause rain, snow, hail, and sleet to occur and then tell how they are similar and different.

For part one, refer to CPALMS resource ID# 36797 It’s Raining Research Part 1.

Type: Lesson Plan

After reading the biography, A Picture Book of Helen Keller by David Adler, students will retell the life of Helen Keller using the central idea and relevant details by answering who, what, when, where, why and how questions. In addition, students will write a nonfiction narrative piece retelling the events of her life in proper sequential order using transition words.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will learn to identify central idea and relevant details while learning about immigration in the early 1900s. After reading informational texts about immigration, students will write an expository paragraph about why immigrants came to America.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is an integrated lesson that includes an Engineering Design Challenge, a study of Mexico using an informational text, and a traditional folktale, Borreguita and the Coyote by Verna Aardema. The Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students investigate and generate explanations and practice working with money as they design and build flagpoles to display a flag representing story concepts. It is not intended as an initial introduction to these concepts.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will learn all about ants by reading National Geographic Kids: Ants. They will investigate the use of various text features in the book and describe how they help readers to understand a text. Students will use their new knowledge to compose an expository paragraph explaining how ants live and work together in their colony.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will use nonfiction texts to learn about how text features help readers. Groups will be assigned a text feature to become an expert on. They will create a poster about their text feature and teach the class about what they have learned. Students will be given a group presentation self-assessment to think about what the group did well together and what could be done differently the next time.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson plan introduces the concept of central idea and relevant details. Students will be able to read a text and identify the central idea and relevant details.

Type: Lesson Plan

This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of force from SC.2.P.13.1 (investigate the effect of applying various pushes and pulls on different objects) and the concept of wind from SC.2.E.7.4 (investigate that air is all around us and that moving air is wind) as they build structures to withstand the force of high-speed winds. It is not intended as an initial introduction to these concepts.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson demonstrates how students can use text features to gather information in informational text. The lesson provides the opportunity for students to apply reading concepts while encountering informational text. This lesson provides students with the opportunity to read and discuss various informational selections about body systems.

Type: Lesson Plan

This engaging lesson allows students to explore the importance of using text features to learn and locate information all while learning about the three forms of matter. Students enjoy using text features as clues to figure out the title of the mystery book.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is part one of a three-part series in which students will research different types of precipitation. In this lesson, students will use informational text and text features to locate information relating to the different types of precipitation. The students will gather information to describe rain, snow, hail, and sleet. Students will use this information to describe the similarities and differences in the various types of precipitation.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson begins with a read aloud of The Gingerbread Man by Eric Kimmel. After that, students will learn how to read a gingerbread recipe. They will discuss author's purpose and the genre of the writing. Students will bake their own gingerbread cookies following the recipe. While the cookies are baking, they will be assessed on their ability to read and comprehend a recipe by doing a "cold read" of a different recipe and answering comprehension questions.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this unit, students will read appropriately leveled informational text on dinosaurs and identify the relevant details of the text. The students will create a detail web using evidence from the text and will then write an expository paper about their choice of dinosaur. The students will also participate in a guided class discussion. The students will practice the guidelines and procedures for successful discussion and will also practice how to come prepared for discussion by providing supporting information from texts that have been read.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson students will read the informational text The Life Cycle of a Butterfly by Lisa Trumbauer. Students will use elements of nonfiction, such as photographs and diagrams, to aid in their understanding of the text. They will create a graphic organizer and use it to produce an expository piece of writing that explains the stages of a butterfly life cycle.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will gain practice on reading informational text and using text features to better understand the water cycle.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is an introductory lesson to teaching the students how to ask questions about the central idea and relevant details of a text.

Type: Lesson Plan

Let's learn about penguins! Students will explore text features and the author's purpose for writing National Geographic Kids: Penguins. Using new knowledge, students will write an expository paragraph on penguins, including what they look like, what they eat, and where they live.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is the first lesson in a series about ants. In this lesson, students will create a KWL chart. New learning will occur as the students read an informational text about ants and talk about how text features help readers while they highlight important details. Students will complete an exit ticket to show their knowledge at the end of this lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will learn how to find the central idea of the passage, Ants in Action. Students will also discuss what makes a fluent reader and participate in paired reading with a partner.

Type: Lesson Plan

Now that your students have become interested in this amazing animal, it is time to learn more by starting a research project. Students will use multiple sources and a graphic organizer to record new facts about ants in preparation to complete an expository writing piece in the next lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson focuses on central idea and details using a science informational text on the states of matter entitled What is the World Made of? All about Solids, Liquids, and Gases. Students will write a summary which identifies the central idea and relevant details from this text.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this multi-day lesson, students will read informational texts on germs, learn how germs are spread, and ways to avoid getting sick. The students will create a detail web using relevant details from each text and will then write an expository paper explaining what they have learned. The students will also participate in a guided class discussion.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will learn various contributions made by famous African Americans throughout history. They will answer questions about informational text while identifying the central idea and relevant details in the text. They will then write about two famous African Americans and the contributions they made, using information from the text.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is an integrated lesson that includes an Engineering Design Challenge, a review of forces, an introduction to drawbridges, and a literary text Henry and Mudge and The Long Weekend by Cynthia Rylant. The Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students investigate and generate explanations and practice working with money as they design and build movable drawbridges. It is not intended as an initial introduction to these concepts.

Type: Lesson Plan

Learn how to use context clues and text features to learn new vocabulary while studying why the White House is a symbol that represents the United States, in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 1 in a six-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Help veterinary assistant Gabriella identify relevant details and compare the information from two texts about Boston terriers as she takes a big goal and breaks it into small steps with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Learn how to use context clues and text features to learn new vocabulary while studying why the Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence represent the United States with this interactive tutorial.

This is part 5 in a six-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Discover how to use context clues and text features to learn new vocabulary while studying why the U.S. Supreme Court is a symbol that represents the United States with this interactive tutorial.

This is part 4 in a six-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Use context clues and text features to learn new vocabulary while studying why the U.S. Capitol building is a symbol that represents the United States with this interactive tutorial.

This is part 3 in a six-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Learn how to use inference context clues to learn about new vocabulary about the Declaration of Independence in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 6 in a six-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Identify specific points in text, identify the supporting reasons, and describe HOW the reasons support the specific points that the author makes in a text as you read about stormy weather in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Learn how to identify relevant details in informational texts to answer questions and use text evidence to support your answers with this interactive tutorial. You can also practice making inferences based on the relevant details.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

In this activity, students will locate specific text features in an informational text.

Type: Student Center Activity

In this activity, students will identify the topic and details in text using a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

In this activity, students will identify the author's purpose (persuade, inform, or entertain) by sorting passages.

Type: Student Center Activity