2.9.d 2.9.f

Informational Text 2nd Grade

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 2.9.d
recognize characteristics and structures of informational text, including: the central idea and supporting evidence with adult assistance; features and graphics to locate and gain information; and organizational patterns such as chronological order and cause and effect stated explicitly;
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 2.9.f
recognize characteristics of multimodal and digital texts.

Informational Texts

Informational texts provide readers with facts about a specific topic or topics. Some examples of informational texts include textbooks, newspaper articles, and encyclopedias.

Elements of Informational Texts

The central idea of an informational text will tell readers what topic or topics the text will focus on. The central idea is further expanded with supporting evidence, which gives more detailed information on a topic.

Informational texts will often use organizational patterns to present information in specific ways. Depending on the organization pattern used, readers can learn different things about a topic.

Example:

In a chronological pattern, a writer organizes information from earliest to latest.

Example:

In a cause/effect pattern, a writer organizes information by showing how one thing led to another and the aftermath of something occuring.

Some informational texts may also use a number of different features and graphics. Readers can use them to find or gain specific information in a text.

Move on to the next page to see an example of an informational text.

Informational Texts

Sally Ride
Sally Ride was an important American astronaut. She liked science from a young age. She attended Stanford University. In 1978, she applied to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She beat thousands of others and became one of NASA's first six female astronauts.

Sally Ride floating in the Challenger space shuttle in 1983

She began her career in NASA as a flight controller. Flight controllers provide support to astronauts in space. In 1983, she became part of the crew of the Challenger space shuttle. Challenger left Earth on June 18, 1983. It returned June 24, 1983. Ride became the first American woman in space during this mission. She went to space a second time on another Challenger mission on October 5, 1984.

Ride retired from NASA in 1987. Throughout the rest of her life, she encouraged students, especially young girls, to study science. She founded the company Sally Ride Science to bring science events to students. She passed away at the age of 61 on July 23, 2012, after a battle with cancer.

Central Idea:

Sally Ride was an American astronaut, physicist, and engineer who influenced many people throughout her life.

Supporting Evidence:

In 1978, she applied to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

In 1983, she became part of the crew of the Challenger space shuttle.

She founded the company Sally Ride Science to help bring science opportunities to students.

Organizational Pattern:

The passage uses a chronological pattern, presenting information in order from Sally Ride's early life to her death in 2012.

Features & Graphics:

Title — This helps readers preview the topic of the text.

Photograph of Sally Ride — This lets readers know what Sally Ride looked like.

Informational Text

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 2.9.d

recognize characteristics and structures of informational text, including:

the central idea and supporting evidence with adult assistance;

features and graphics to locate and gain information; and

organizational patterns such as chronological order and cause and effect stated explicitly;

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 2.9.f

recognize characteristics of multimodal and digital texts.