Second Grade: Informative Explanatory Writing
Resource Guide
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Month-by-Month Trait- Based Writing Instruction by Maria P. Walther & Katherine
(p.110)
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Nonfiction Writing: Procedures and Reports (Lucy Calkins and Laurie
Pessah)
How to Write a How to Book
Choose a topic
Plan the steps on paper
Sketch the steps
Show what things will be needed
Tell the steps in order
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http://jc-schools.net/write/transition.htm This page has a good list of transition
words to use in a variety of writing pieces.
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Make It Real Strategies for Success with Informational Texts by Linda Hoyt (p.263)
http://it.pinellas.k12.fl.us/Teachers3/gurianb/wus.html
The Nonfiction Features Posters (Look for Blue Ribbon) This is a GREAT set of
Posters!
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Another source for Nonfiction Features Can be found at ReadingLady.com.
www.readinglady.com
Once there, you can search for Nonfiction Conventions Notebook. This is a
Worksheet format where students can collect information about texts
that they are reading or to help to record information from a text that
they are using for their project.
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Month-by-Month Trait- Based Writing Instruction by Maria P. Walther & Katherine
(p.155) This mini lesson shows how to go about collecting text features. Page 187 in
the appendix shows a simple way to record their thoughts. They name the feature,
draw and write what they see, and label the bottom of the page with the feature’s
purpose.
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Make It Real Strategies for Success with Informational Texts by Linda Hoyt (pages
289-314) The ideas in this section of the book discuss how students can present
information on a poster in something called an investigation. The students write
facts, create illustrations with captions, or diagrams with labels. They can create
bold faced words and have an overall title for their work.
America’s Choice -- Report (Grade 3) “What do we already know about reports?” page
15 “Using subheading to organize” page 92 “Using boxes, photographs,illustrations,
and/or diagrams to highlight specific information” page 95
Nonfiction Craft Lessons, by Joann Portalupi and Ralph Fletcher, Note taking, pages
23-25 Writing a table of contents, page 29 Labeling a picture, page 31 Making a
diagram, page 32
Nonfiction Mentor Texts, by Lynne Dorfman and Rose Cappelli, Building Content with
Diagrams and Labels, pages 60-61
http://it.pinellas.k12.fl.us/Teachers3/gurianb/index.html This site has a number of
different resources. (Nonfiction Book Writing Paper) There is a 13 page teacher
created form for a student book. It includes space for illustrations and page numbers.
There is a glossary form and choices for diagrams. An index form is also included if
that is wanted.
There is also a teacher created book that has been made up as a sample that could be
printed or projected for a preview.
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A Place for Wonder Reading and Writing Nonfiction in the Primary Grades by
Georgia Heard and Jennifer McDonough
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http://it.pinellas.k12.fl.us/Teachers3/gurianb/index.html Show the sample project
from this site to keep students on track.