Reader’s Workshop Mentor Text Sample Mini-lesson Shared Reading Plan for Informational Text
Title of Mentor Text
Kids Discover:
Pompeii
Purpose
To inform about the
catastrophic event of
Pompeii.
Main Idea
The eruption of Mt.
Vesuvius caught the entire
city of Pompeii off-guard,
causing most to perish.
Supporting Details
 August 24, 79 AD Mt.
Vesuvius erupted
without warning after
being dormant for over
800 years.
 Within hours, Pompeii
was buried under 6-20
feet of rock and ash.
 Over 2,000 people died.
Text Features
Illustrations, photographs,
captions, maps, timeline,
diagram, labels, call-out
boxes, headings,
subheadings, interactive
pages, additional resources
Expanding Vocabulary: dormant, ruins, deafening, adorned, preserved, decayed, haphazard, quaint, pumice,
accumulation, surge, inhabitants, evacuation, catastrophe, atrium, excavation
Background Knowledge: Volcanic eruption, Roman civilization
Unit of Study:
Mini-Lesson Sample:
Genre/Structure
Mini-Lesson Sample:
Expanding Vocabulary
Mini-Lesson Sample:
Comprehension
Mini-Lesson Sample:
Word Work
Connect/Activate
Prior Knowledge
Connect/Activate
Prior Knowledge
Connect/Activate
Prior Knowledge
Connect/Activate
Prior Knowledge
Refer to second trimester
“features of nonfiction text”
class-created chart from the
informational shared reading
plan, or discuss nonfiction text
features together.
Discuss the rules of Pictionary
and explain how this will be
applied for Vocabulary
Pictionary.
Discuss volcanic eruptions and
the possible aftermath.
Discuss the differences
between reading about or
witnessing an event.
Clear Learning Target
Readers understand nonfiction
text structure and how text
features aid in understanding.
(RI.6.5)
Student Engagement
Choose a text feature and
model how to create a page:
Name the feature, explain its
purpose, show multiple
examples of what it looks like
including one from the
Pompeii text.
Clear Learning Target
Readers use new words they
encounter.
(L.6.6)
Student Engagement
Using index cards, students
create definitions for one or
two vocabulary words found
in the extended vocabulary
section.
Clear Learning Target
Readers compare what they
read to what they view.
(RI.6.7)
Show several examples of
WOW (words of the week)
slides. (WOW Example 1,
WOW Example 2, WOW
Example 3).
Clear Learning Target
Readers can work with new
vocabulary words.
(L.6.5)
Mini-Lesson Sample:
Responding to my
Reading
Connect/Activate
Prior Knowledge
Discuss how historical events
can be explored through
fiction and nonfiction texts.
Brainstorm examples
together.
Clear Learning Target
Readers integrate information
from several texts about the
same topic to help develop a
complete understanding.
(RI.6.9)
Student Engagement
Student Engagement
Student Engagement
Show video of Mt. St. Helens’
1980 eruption. Introduce
students to three-column
volcanic comparison chart and
model filling in a few facts
together.
Model creating a WOW slide
together using the Expanded
Vocabulary word, “decayed.”
See completed example for
assistance.
In multiple sessions, spend
time reading the Kids Discover
Pompeii magazine as well as
“The Dog of Pompeii” short
story.
Link/Closure
Link/Closure
Link/Closure
Using the text features found
in Pompeii, students will
create one page for a
classroom resource book
about text features. Assign
and delegate different
features to pairs or small
groups of students.
Play Vocabulary Pictionary.
Refer to Vocabulary Pictionary
Rules.
Students work independently
or in pairs filling out the chart
comparing the eruption of Mt.
St. Helens to the eruption of
Pompeii.
Link/Closure
Students choose one word
and create a WOW slide to
present to the class.
Link/Closure
Students write a short essay
analyzing the two texts about
Pompeii. Refer to Pompeii
Essay page.