Lesson Plan for Grade 2 - English - Writing Narratives and Information Texts

**Lesson Plan: Writing Narratives and Information Texts** **Grade Level:** 2 **Subject:** English Language Arts **Duration:** 60 minutes **Topic:** Writing Narratives and Information Texts --- **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. --- **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. --- **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.