Year 4 Non-fiction Unit 2 – Information texts

Information texts (4 weeks)

Overview

• Prepare for factual research by reviewing what is known, what is needed, what is available and where one might search.
• Routinely use dictionaries and thesaurus and use third and fourth place letters to locate and sequence words in alphabetical order.
• Scan texts in print or on screen to locate key words or phrases, headings, lists, bullet points, captions and key sentences (and IT equivalents) to appraise their usefulness in supporting the reader to gain information effectively. Collect information from a variety of sources.
• Identify how paragraphs are used to organise and sequence information. Mark and annotate headings, key sentences and words in printed text or on screen.
• Make short notes, for example by abbreviating ideas, selecting key words, listing or in diagrammatic form.
• Fill out brief notes into connected prose.
• Present information from a variety of sources in one simple format, for example chart, labelled diagram, graph, matrix.
• Develop and refine ideas in writing using planning and problem-solving strategies.
• Edit down and reword a sentence or paragraph by deleting the less important elements, for example repetitions, asides, secondary considerations, and explain the reasons for the editorial choices.

1998 Framework objectives covered:

Year 4, Term 2: T15 and T17 appraise a non-fiction book for its contents and usefulness by scanning headings, contents list, etc.; scan texts in print or on screen to locate key words or phrases, useful headings and key sentences; T18 mark extracts by annotating and by selecting key headings, words or sentences, or noting these; T21, T22 and T23 make short notes, for example by abbreviating ideas, selecting key words, listing or in diagrammatic form; fill out brief notes into connected prose; collect information from a variety of sources and present it in one simple format.