• Grade K

    School Fun

    Sometimes children learn to do things in school by following a set of directions. To link children to real-world procedural text, show children a list of directions for playing a game with their friends or families. Explain that following the directions will help them know how to play the game. For more examples of procedural text, go to http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/ language-games/paint-it. Children can follow the directions for painting pictures.

    (This activity is from Level B of our Guided Reading Text Types Program.*)

  • Grade 1

    Meet the Big Cats!

    Explain to children that some big cats are found in zoos, along with many other animals. To link children to real-world expository text about wild animals, display animal facts and photos from a local zoo website. Discuss why a zoo website is a good source of information. For more examples of expository text, go to http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/a-mammal.html.

    (This activity is from Level D of our Guided Reading Text Types Program.*)

  • Grade 2

    Now I Know: What's Under the Ocean

    The information on each page of this title identifies a living thing found in the ocean. To connect children to real-world expository text, show them a field guide to ocean animals and explain that it is a book of pictures and descriptions that can be used to easily identify animals of the ocean. For more expository text, go to http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/. Have children use the online field guide to find information on a given animal.

    (This activity is from Level H of our Guided Reading Text Types Program.*)

  • Grade 3

    Endangered Animals

    To link children to real-world persuasive text that encourages them to take action to protect endangered animals, share a letter to the editor from a local newspaper with them. For more persuasive text about protecting endangered animals, go to http://www.savethepolarbear.org.

    (This activity is from Level K of our Guided Reading Text Types Program.*)

  • Grade 4

    The Good Dog

    In this story, Jack has read a lot about wolves and thinks he has spotted one. To link students to real-world expository text, share a feature article about wolves, preferably one that includes photographs or diagrams. Point out how this information might help students distinguish a wolf from other animals. For more expository text about wolves, go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wolves.

    (This activity is from Level S of our Guided Reading Text Types Program.*)

  • Grade 5

    The Star Crusher (Missile Mouse)

    Just like the mouse in this story, students need to learn how to research a task before it can be completed. To link students to real-world expository text about the United States, show them a fact book. Have students use the book to look up facts to answer their questions on a given subject. For more examples of expository text, go to http://www.factmonster.com/ and click on “United States.”

    (This activity is from Level U of our Guided Reading Text Types Program.*)

  • Grade 6

    Chasing Lincoln's Killer

    In this book, public perception of the assassination and subsequent manhunt for Lincoln's killer is conveyed through news articles. To link students to real-world expository text, show them an online news article relating to an international current event. Have students analyze the details and discuss how the rush to post important news online affects the accuracy of the article. Invite students to monitor follow-up news articles and note how the facts might change as new details become available. For more expository text, go to http://www.nytimes.com.

    (This activity is from Level Z of our Guided Reading Text Types Program.*)