**Lesson Plan: Writing Narratives and Information Texts**
**Grade Level:** 2
**Subject:** English Language Arts
**Duration:** 60 minutes
**Topic:** Writing Narratives and Information Texts
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**Goals/Objectives:**
1. Students will learn to distinguish between narrative and informational texts.
2. Students will understand the basic structure of a narrative and an informational text.
3. Students will write a simple narrative and an informational text.
**Materials Needed:**
- Whiteboard and markers
- Chart paper and markers
- Writing paper and pencils
- Example books or printed pages of narratives and informational texts
- Graphic organizers for both narrative and informational texts
- Highlighters
- Story Prompt Cards
**Standards:**
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.3: Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2: Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement.
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**Lesson Activities:**
**Introduction (10 minutes):**
1. **Engagement Activity:**
- Begin with a short read-aloud session. Read one narrative text and one informational text to the class.
- Examples: A short story like "Piggie Pie!" by Margie Palatini (Narrative) and "National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly" (Informational).
2. **Class Discussion:**
- Ask students to point out differences they noticed between the two texts.
- Chart students' responses on the whiteboard.
**Direct Instruction (15 minutes):**
1. **Explain Narrative Texts:**
- Teach students that narratives tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end. They have characters, settings, and a problem/solution structure.
- Use a graphic organizer (e.g., story map) to illustrate the structure.
2. **Explain Informational Texts:**
- Teach students that informational texts provide facts and information about a topic. They usually have headings, factual information, and sometimes pictures or diagrams.
- Use a chart to show the structure, including heading, facts, and concluding statement.
**Guided Practice (15 minutes):**
1. **Group Activity for Narratives:**
- Working in small groups, students will use story prompt cards to brainstorm and outline a simple story using a story map.
2. **Group Activity for Informational Texts:**
- Students will choose a topic (e.g., an animal, a plant, a place) and use a graphic organizer to list three facts and a concluding statement about that topic.
**Independent Practice (15 minutes):**
1. **Writing Narratives:**
- Students will individually write a short narrative based on their group brainstorm.
- Encourage students to use complete sentences and include a beginning, middle, and end.
2. **Writing Information Texts:**
- Students will write a short informational text about their chosen topic, using their graphic organizer as a guide.
**Conclusion (5 minutes):**
1. **Sharing:**
- Allow a few students to share their narratives and informational texts with the class.
- Encourage positive feedback and highlight unique details or structures students used.
2. **Review:**
- Recap the differences between narratives and informational texts.
- Praise students for their hard work and creativity.
**Assessment:**
- Formative assessment through observation during group work and independent practice.
- Collect narratives and informational texts to review for understanding of structure and content.
**Differentiation:**
- Provide sentence starters or additional support for students who may struggle with writing.
- Challenge advanced students by encouraging them to add more detailed descriptions or additional facts.
**Extensions:**
- Encourage students to create illustrations to accompany their texts.
- Integrate technology by allowing students to use a writing app or software to type and format their texts.
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**Reflection:**
- After the lesson, reflect on student engagement and understanding.
- Note any difficulties students had and plan for additional practice if needed.
- Consider how to build on this lesson in future writing activities.