Activities

1. Make a list of various formats that an informational topic can be presented in.  List why the format might be used.
   
   
2. Given an informational topic, find examples of various media that are used to convey information on the topic.  Give examples of the media used on a poster.  

3. Given an informational text, identify and explain how the text features assist the reader in understanding the text and topic.
   
   
4. Given a text and movie on the same topic, compare and contrast the information presented using a T-chart.  

5. Given a relevant photograph, chart, map, or diagram and an informational text, integrate the information and give a retelling about the topic.
   
   
6. Given an article and a section of a textbook on the same topic, write a summary that integrates the information and demonstrates understanding of both the article and textbook.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Student makes a list of various formats a topic can be presented in.  Student lists why the format might be used.  Student’s list is complete.  Student’s list is correct.  Student correctly lists why a format might be used.  Student understands a format is the structure of the writing.  The structure used may be to compare and contrast, show cause and effect, follow a timeline or summarize, etc.  For example:

2. Given an informational topic, student finds examples of various media that are used to convey information on the topic.  Student gives adequate examples of the media used on a poster.   Student understands media is a way to spread information through print, visuals or electronically.  Examples may include books, newspaper, magazine, mail, textbooks, movies, cartoons, documentaries, interviews, public service announcements, speech, radio talk show, blogs, email, and webpages.
   
   
3. Given an informational text, student identifies and explains how the text features assist the reader in understanding the text and topic.  Student correctly identifies all text features.  Student adequately explains how each text feature assists the reader in understanding the text and topic.  Some text features student may note are photographs, maps, captions, illustrations, charts, diagrams, timelines, titles, subtitles, glossary, index, table of contents, highlighting, colored print, bold print, italics and so forth.
   
   
4.  Given a text and movie on the same topic, student compares and contrasts the information presented using a T-Chart.   Student accurately lists key details presented in both the movie and book.  Student accurately notes details that are the same and different.  T-chart is adequately filled in.  T-Chart may be similar to the following:

5. Given a relevant photograph, chart, map, or diagram and an informational text, student integrates the information and gives a retelling about the topic.  Student closely reads both texts.  Student’s retelling is accurate and complete.  Retelling includes:

• Information from both sources
• Main “gist” of the information
• Key ideas
• Use of words, phrases and clauses directly from the texts
• Student’s own words
• Inferences
• Student’s opinion, observations, connections, or evaluation of the texts

6. Given an article and a section of a textbook on the same topic, student writes a summary that integrates the information and demonstrates understanding of both the article and textbook.  Student may wish to use a graphic organizer to organize information, prior to summarizing.
   Student closely reads the article and the related section of the textbook.  Student brings information from the article and textbook together.  Student accurately summarizes the article and textbook as one.  Summary includes:

• Information from both sources
• Main “gist” of the information
• Key ideas
• Use of words, phrases and clauses directly from the texts
• Student’s own words
• Inferences
• Student’s opinion, observations, connections, or evaluation of the texts