Tools for Teachers:

Connecting Social Studies and the CCSS Informational Text

Session Objectives

As a result of this session, participants will…

• EXPLORE informational text

• ENGAGE in identifying characteristics of informational text

• CONNECT informational text to classroom practice

• REFLECT on how informational text impacts teaching and learning

EXPLORE:How do we engage students using informational text in our

current practice?

Use the Characteristics worksheet you printed in the last lesson – add 3 to 4 characteristics on the worksheet.

Read the article and answer the question that follows:• ARTICLE: The Power

of Non-fiction: Using Informational Text to Support Literacy in Special Populations

• After reviewing the article, how does this clarify or enhance your definition of “informational text?”

View the lesson and answer the question that follows:• Historical Detective Work, Teaching

Channel Video

• What types of informational text is the teacherusing?

Watch the following video and answer the questions that follow:

1. What does “balancing informational text” mean?

2. What does it look like in the classroom?

3. What strategies could I use to build success with informational texts?

4. What challenges will I face as I build student confidence with informational text?

EXPLORE:How do we engage students using informational text in our

current practice?

Engage NY video - CLICK HERE

Use the Characteristics worksheet. Identify and Circle 3 characteristics for this learning session – on your agenda.

ENGAGECharacteristics of Informational Text

Use the “6/3 Shifts” chart, Video

Inquiry Group

Discussing Non-Fiction

1Text-

Based

2Build

Knowledge

3Write frm Sources

4Complex

Reflect on HOW you will incorporate the ideas viewed into your practice.

SAMPLE Literacy lessons at the grade bands:

• ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Read, Write, Think – keyword search, Christopher Columbus

• MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL: New York Times, The Learning Network – Current Events – click on “Lesson Plan” icon

• C-E-R Article Analysis Template – to use with Mandela article

Complete the Chart on your Agenda: Describe one new way you could incorporate this lesson-type into your practice.

CONNECTInformational Text to Classroom Practice

New York Times, The Learning Network – Current Events

Connecting ideas, read articles:

• READ: Visual Literacy, Ch. 3, Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom

• REVIEW: Visual Literacy

• VIEW: Visual Literacy Across the Curriculum

• What ideas are connected in the graphic to the left?

How would this information benefit how you use visuals during classroom instrution?

CONNECTAnother way to connect with Informational Text…What does

this LOOK like?

Popular Graphic Arts, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs, LC-USZC2-2373

Using the Tools learned in this Module –

Identify ways instruction around Informational text is relevant to your teaching.Where will you begin to incorporate lessons learned?What support do you need to get started?

Time to Reflect

• Stanford Read Like a Historian• Economics

Council for Economic Education – Resources

• Informational Text Strategies - K-5 Teaching & Learning Strategies

• 2009 National Council for Social Studies Ways to teach about informational literacy

• Harvard Graduate School of Education Artful Thinking

• Macomb ISD Reading Strategies and Writing Stragegies

• ReadWriteThink K-12 LessonsKeyword Search Social Studies

Additional Resources

We would like to thank the following partners & contributors:

• MAISA – Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators, General Education Leadership Network (GELN) Project

• REMC Association of Michigan – Regional Educational Media Center for the funding of this project

• The Aspen Institute – PowerPoint graphics

• Teaching with Midwest Region – for the content references

CREDITS