The Solution to Reading Comprehension
Lessons & Units
Explicit Information 3rd Grade Unit
Lesson 1 Conducting Research Create questions about a nonfiction topic.Use nonfiction text features and evidence to answer questions.
Repeat Lesson 1 with other books in the “A True Book” series, such as:
- Lizards by Trudi Strain Trueit
- Fishes by Melissa Stewart
- Tropical Rain Forest by Darlene Stille
- Amphibians by Melissa Stewart
- Mammals by Melissa Stewart
- Insects by Melissa Stewart
- As students read the books, ask them to keep a running list of new words. Then, have students choose several words to create a word chart. On the word chart, have students list the word, provide an example, or use it in a sentence and supply a definition in their own words. (See Additional Activity A Worksheet in Teacher and Student Materials below.)
- Have students create a mind map. A mind map allows students to use lines or branches along with words and pictures to show how a concept is related to other concepts. Students can use sticky notes to show connections between concepts. (See Additional Activity B worksheet below.)
- Use the Concepts of Comprehension Reading Passages to reinforce the skill of finding explicit information in a reading passage.
- Continue to use text features to obtain information from a nonfiction text (glossary, index, and visual aids).
- Guide students in using the question/answer sheet completed in Lesson 1 to develop a written report about their topic.
- Have students use Concepts of Comprehension Reading Passages or newspaper articles to practice finding explicit information. Before students read an article, ask them to write a list of questions. Then, have students read the article and use the information in it to write answers to their questions. If they cannot find the answers to their questions in the article, provide additional books for students to use.
- Before Independent Reading, have students write questions they have about the topic of the book. Students can write answers to their own questions as they read.