Informational text gives us facts about the world. It teaches us about real people, places, animals, or things. Unlike a story, it is written to explain or inform.
When you read informational text, think: “What facts am I learning?”
Text features are parts of a book or article that help us find and understand information. These features make it easier to learn from the text.
Pay attention to pictures, charts, and bold words. They give clues to important ideas.
The main topic is what the text is mostly about. Finding the main topic helps us understand the purpose of the text and remember the most important ideas.
Ask yourself: “What is this text mostly teaching me?”
Key details are the facts that support the main topic. They tell us more about the big idea of the text and help explain it clearly.
Look for answers to “who, what, where, when, why, or how” to find key details.
Good readers ask and answer questions while reading informational text. This helps us think about what we are learning and check our understanding.
When you read, stop and ask questions. Then look back in the text to find the answers.
Retelling means explaining what you learned in your own words. This shows that you understood the text and can remember the important information.
Think: “What was the main topic? What key details did I learn?” Then retell in your own words.