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Z.1 Reading informational texts about science and nature

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What Does It Mean to Read Informational Texts?

Informational texts are nonfiction books, articles, or passages that give facts about the world. These texts often explain ideas about science, nature, history, or how things work. The purpose is to inform or teach, not to entertain with made-up stories.

Examples:
  • “Bees collect nectar from flowers to make honey.”
  • “The desert is very dry and gets little rainfall each year.”
Helpful Hint

If the text gives you facts or teaches you something new, it is an informational text.

Why Do We Read Informational Texts?

We read informational texts to learn new facts, explore real topics, and understand the world better. These texts help us answer questions about nature, science, and how things work in real life.

Examples in Texts:
  • “Frogs live near water because they need moisture to survive.”
  • “The sun gives Earth heat and light, which plants and animals need.”
Helpful Hint

Ask yourself: “What new facts did I learn from this text?”

How Do We Find the Main Idea?

The main idea is what the text is mostly about. Supporting details are the facts or examples that explain or prove the main idea. Finding the main idea helps readers understand the most important information.

Examples:
  • Main idea: “Penguins are birds that live in cold places.”
    Detail: “They have thick feathers to keep warm.”
  • Main idea: “Plants need sunlight to grow.”
    Detail: “Without sunlight, plants cannot make food.”
Helpful Hint

Look for repeated ideas or clues in the title and first sentences to find the main idea.

How Do We Use Text Features?

Informational texts often include special features like headings, captions, diagrams, charts, or bold words. These features help readers understand and remember important facts more easily.

Examples of Text Features:
  • A heading tells what a section is about.
  • A diagram shows the parts of a plant with labels.
  • A caption explains what a picture shows.
Helpful Hint

Pay close attention to charts, pictures, and bold words. They are there to help you understand the text better.

How Do We Connect Informational Texts to What We Know?

Good readers connect what they read with what they already know. Making connections helps us remember facts, ask new questions, and understand the information more clearly.

Examples:
  • Text: “Some animals sleep during the winter.”
    Connection: “I have seen squirrels gather nuts in the fall before winter.”
  • Text: “Clouds are made of tiny drops of water.”
    Connection: “I have seen clouds turn dark before it rains.”
Helpful Hint

Ask yourself: “What do I already know about this topic?”

Putting It All Together

When you read informational texts, look for the main idea, notice text features, and connect what you read to what you already know. This will make you a stronger reader and help you understand science and nature more clearly.

Examples:
  • “The diagram of a plant reminded me that roots and leaves both have important jobs.”
  • “Reading about the water cycle helped me understand why it rains after clouds get heavy with water.”
Helpful Hint

Remember: Good readers ask, “What is this text teaching me, and how can I use this information?”

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