ACQUISITION LESSON PLAN for
Text Organization
Grade 3
Essential Question:
How can a reader use clues to tell how a text is organized?
Accelerating/Previewing: (Key Vocabulary)
Sequence (events in order), compare (how things are alike), contrast (how things are different),
cause, effect
Preview Six-Part Foldable
Activating Strategy:
Mystery Close-ups: Show close-ups of animals and ask students to name the animal and tell
what clues they used to figure this out. Stress the use of clues to figure out the type of
animal. (see sample pictures attached)
Teaching Strategies:
Direct Teaching: Just like we can identify animals by clues, it is possible to identify types
of texts using clues. Today we will look at five main types of text organization*. Each text
type has clues to help us identify it.
Ask students to create a six-part foldable, writing one text type and description on each
flap. (see example)
Problem/Solution: The passage states a problem, and then gives a solution.
Compare/Contrast: The paragraph tells how things are alike and how they are different.
Sequence: The passage tells the events in the order that they happened.
Cause/Effect: The passage gives a cause, and then gives an effect.
Question/Answer: The passage asks a question, and then gives an answer.
Guided Practice 1:
Ask students to read each sample passage (GP1) with a partner and look for clues to the
text type. Students should circle clue words that helped them identify the text type. Go
over the five sample passages as a whole class, highlighting clue words, and finding clues in
how the different parts of the passage relate.
Do they follow in chronological order (sequence)?
Do they show one thing that causes something else to happen (cause/effect)?
Do they tell how things are alike and different (compare/contrast)?
Etc.
Students may cut and paste each passage on the back of the corresponding flap of the
foldable.
Prompt: Ask students to turn and tell their partner what kind of clues to look for when
looking at text organization. (clue words, parts of the passage and how they relate)
Guided Practice 2:
Ask students to work in a small group or with a partner to read the sample passages on GP2.
Students should use their foldable to help them identify the text organization and tell how
they know this. Students should circle or highlight clue words also. Passages can be sorted
and posted in class as the class goes over these passages.
Note to the Absent Student: How can a reader tell how a text is organized? (certain words
give clues, the reader checks to see how the parts of the passage are related)
Summarizing Strategy
Ask partners to complete the Quick Partner Match-up and then to create additional ideas
for each text structure.
Materials
Sample passages are taken from Gr. 2 Study Island passages.
Each student will need one sheet of paper for a six-part foldable, scissors, and glue.
Each student will need a set of clue words, a set of sample passages.
Each partner set will need a copy of the Quick Partner Match-Ups.
Follow up:
It is important for students to be able to write the steps in order as presented in sequence
text. Students should also be able to tell what happens before or after a given event. For
this reason, teachers will want to spend a little more time with sequential text structure.
*The sixth main text structure is Description, in which sensory words are used to describe
how one item or setting looks, sounds, smells, etc. This is generally not introduced until 4 th
grade, but teachers may want to include Description when the students are ready for this.
LEQ:
How can a
reader use
clues to tell
how a text is
organized?
Clue Words for Text Organization
first
what
where
when
more
problem
finally
who
next
solve
after
different
less
since
solution
because
both
then
Text
Organization
Cause/Effect:
The passage gives a cause,
and then gives an effect.
because
then
since
Sample foldable
Sequence:
The passage tells the events
in the order that they
happened.
first
next
finally
Problem/Solution:
The passage states a
problem, and then gives a
solution.
problem
solve
solution
Compare/Contrast:
The passage tells how things
are alike and how they are
different.
more
less
different
both
Question/Answer:
The passage asks a question,
and then gives an answer.
who
what
where
when
GP1 – Sample Passages
Monarch butterflies are not
born with their orange and black
wings. First, they are born as
small eggs that stick to leaves. A
caterpillar comes out of the egg.
It eats many leaves. Then it
finds a place to rest. It rests
inside a shell called a chrysalis.
It will rest for two weeks.
Finally, it comes out of the shell.
It does not look like a caterpillar
anymore. It looks like a pretty
butterfly.
Moving to a new city causes
some kids feel sad. When kids
move, they have to leave their
friends. The kids feel sad
because they miss their old
friends. When kids go to a new
school, they do not know any of
the other kids. Since the new
kids feel shy, so they may sit
alone at lunch or at recess.
Some people do not have enough
money to buy food. To help them
get food, our class can bring lots
of food from home. We can take
all the food to the food bank in
our city. The food bank will give
out free food to people who
need it.
A bus and a train can take people
to new places. They both can
carry many people at a time. You
may need to pay to ride on them.
A train and bus have
differences, too. A train is long
and has many train cars. It can
only run on the railroad tacks. A
bus is smaller and runs on the
roads.
Why should you eat fruit? Fruit
is good for you. It has many
important vitamins that help you
grow. Fruit also helps give you
energy. When you are tired in
the afternoon, eat a piece of
fruit. You will start feeling
better in no time!
GP2 – Sample Passages
Birds build nests so they have a safe place for their baby birds. Birds can build nests in many
different places. You may have seen one in a tree near your house. To build a nest, the bird first has
to find a safe place. Then, the bird finds twigs and grass. The bird uses them to weave a nest. When
the nest is done, the bird can lay her eggs in the nest she built.
When it is hot outside, your body may get too hot. Your body needs to cool down, so you may start to
sweat. The sweat comes out of your skin. The sweat helps your skin cool down because it is wet. It
feels like you have put water on your skin.
There is too much trash on the sides of the road. To get rid of the trash, the kids can make groups to
pick it up. Each group can pick up trash on one part of the road. If all the kids work hard, then the
sides of the road will look clean again.
Frogs and toads can live in the water and on the land. They both catch food with long, sticky tongues.
They eat insects and small animals. You can tell them apart by their bodies. Frogs have long, strong
back legs and thin, moist skin. Toads have shorter back legs and drier skin.
Some dogs and cats do not have homes. People started animal shelters to take care of these animals
and solve the problem of homeless animals. At the shelters, dogs and cats get food and water. They
get to play with other dogs and cats. Sometimes, people bring a lost animal to the shelter. Some of
these dogs and cats get a new home! People come to animal shelters to get a new pet.
Why do you need to get exercise? It is good for your body. It makes your heart, muscles, and bones
strong. It makes you feel better if you have a bad day. If you exercise, you will stay at a healthy
weight.
Penguins and owls are both birds. Their babies hatch out of eggs. Both owls and penguins keep their
eggs warm by sitting on them until the babies are ready to hatch. Penguins are very different from
owls. Penguins live in very cold areas with a lot of ice. Owls live all over the world in all kinds of
weather. Owls can fly and are awake at night. Penguins cannot fly and sleep at night.
Why do you need to brush your teeth? Brushing your teeth keeps your teeth clean. When you eat,
small bits of food stay on your teeth. If you do not brush, the food can make a hole in a tooth. If you
keep your teeth clean, then you will have healthy teeth and a nice smile.
When kids play sports or join a team, they learn all about team work. One effect of joining a team is
learning how to share things. Kids also learn how to work together to meet a goal. They learn to help
each other and follow the rules. Kids also learn how to listen to coaches and other adults. Many good
things come out of a kid playing a sport or being on a team.
Quick Partner Match-Up
to tell how to make
meatloaf
to fix a problem with
bullying at recess
to tell the harmful effects
of smoking
to give some information
about a common question
to tell how 3rd grade is
different from 2nd grade
Sequence
Problem/Solution
Compare/Contrast
Cause/Effect
Question/Answer