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Students will identify the features of informative texts, including structure, tone, style, and purpose.

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Read an informative text (online article) with multimedia elements and write 5 sentences (bullets) to explain which of these elements supported better your comprehension of the text.

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What is an Informative Text?

What are the key elements of an Informative Text?

How do multimedia elements contribute to the understanding of Informative Texts?

Explore the instructional materials below!

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Create a list of five multimedia resources that can enhance the understanding of informative texts.

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Multimedia learning tools play an important role in classrooms in a number of ways-including, but not limited to, boosting creativity, encouraging student engagement, and helping students learn to collaborate.

Shy students may come out of their shells when allowed to give a presentation via blog post or podcast. Natural leaders may emerge during group work as part of a team presentation assignment. Other students may find their true artistic calling using graphics or creating videos in the classroom.

Multimedia learning tools engage students, and as we all know, students who are engaged in their learning often demonstrate higher academic achievement and take more ownership of their learning.

Related content: 20 top edtech tools
Because there are so many tools and teachers have limited time, we've compiled this list of multimedia resources to get you started on your search.

1. Adobe Spark: Students can use existing templates for an assignment or as personal inspiration. Students choose design themes, drop in photos, add text, and more. Projects can be safely shared with peers and teachers. Step-by-step lessons help educators meet curricular objectives and add creativity to the classroom.

2. Casio: Casio's education solutions aim to deliver flexibility as they support active learning and collaboration. To help alleviate the challenge of technology set-ups, Casio's LampFree Network Model projectors offer a variety of features designed to reduce set-up time in the classroom and keep students focused on the curriculum. Casio's blog also offers tips and tutorials.

Related Content: The eSchool News Multimedia Presentation Systems Guide is here! It features strategies to help you integrate engaging and media-rich tools into the classroom, and it offers a look at how these tools engage students and strengthen student voice. A new eSchool News Guide will launch each month-don't miss a single one!

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16 multimedia learning tools for the classroom

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Multimedia learning tools play an important role in classrooms in a number of ways-including, but not limited to, boosting creativity, encouraging student engagement, and helping students learn to collaborate. Shy students may come out of their shells when allowed to give a presentation via blog post or podcast.

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Students will evaluate how multimedia elements, like videos or images, enhance the understanding of an informative text.

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How Visual and Multimedia Elements Contribute to the Meaning of a Text

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Explore this classic publication website to choose multimedia informative texts for the assessment activity above.

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Explore National Geographic. A world leader in geography, cartography and exploration.

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Study this Main Idea visual summary.

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Choose an informative text from an approved online database or website. Make sure that you like the topic. Summarize the following:

1. Main idea

2. Supporting ideas / important details

3. Purpose of the text

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Informational Texts For School | PBS LearningMedia

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Find informational texts for lesson plans. Inspire your students with videos, games, resources, and activities that align to state and national standards.

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Study the infographic summary of one of the key features of an informative text: STRUCTURE.

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The Common Core State Standards place great value on the structure of writing, and for good reason. Recognizing text structure can help students become closer readers, and using effective structures can improve the logic and impact of their writing. However, a

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Read and learn the definition and key features of an informative text.

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EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | www.ebsco.com

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Informational text is writing that conveys information about the world. The information can include aspects of the natural or social world. Such writing informs or instructs the reader and often includes special features. Informational text is a form of nonfiction, but not all nonfiction is informational text. For example, biographies and how-to guides are not generally considered informational texts. People of all ages, including young children and adults, can find value in informational text, as it allows them to be successful in many aspects of life.

Overview

Informational text informs the reader about a particular topic. This type of writing teaches readers about the world around them. Informational text usually discusses a topic in a generalized way. Both skillful and non-skillful readers can find informational text on nearly any topic. Examples of informational texts include reference texts, question-and-answer books, and cause-and-effect books. Informational texts can also include news articles, scientific journals, and textbooks. Informational text usually employs technical vocabulary. The sentence "A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth" is an example of a sentence that could be found in informational text. Special features often accompany informational text, including a table of contents, an index, a glossary, embedded definitions for specialized vocabulary, bold or italicized text, photos or illustrations, captions or labels, and graphs or charts. Informational text is not only found in printed material; it is also available on the Internet as well.

One may assume that all nonfiction is considered informational text; however, this is not true. Certain forms of nonfiction do not fall under the informational text category. For example, a biography is not considered informational text because it conveys information about someone's life and does not inform the reader about a specific topic. Furthermore, a how-to guide tells the reader how to perform a particular task but does not actually convey information about a topic. In this sense, informational text can be thought of as a subset of the nonfiction genre.

The ability to comprehend informational text is important for young people and adults. Students of all ages must understand informational text to succeed in school and guarantee proper development. Adults must understand informational text to succeed in the workplace and society. To ensure success in these areas, children should be exposed to informational text at an early age. Grade-school teachers should include informational text in the classroom to familiarize children with its characteristics while developing information literacy. One way teachers can incorporate informational text in the classroom is to read it aloud to students. This activity increases the likelihood that students will read informational text on their own.

Bibliography

"The Case for Informational Text." Educational Leadership, ASCD, 1 Mar. 2004, www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar04/vol61/num06/The-Case-for-Informational-Text.aspx. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

"Common Core: The Fuss over Non-Fiction." TeachersFirst, www.teachersfirst.com/exclusives/moreless/librarian/fuss/q2.cfm. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

"Informational Text: Or How Thin Can You Slice the Salami." Shanahan On Literacy, 3 Oct. 2012, www.shanahanonliteracy.com/blog/informational-text-or-how-thin-can-you-slice-the-salami. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

"What is Informational Text?" The University of Maine, umaine.edu/edhd/research-outreach/lifespan-literacy-community/programs/correll-book-award/what-is-informational-text. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

Wise, Crystal N., and Nell K. Duke. "Using and Creating Informational Texts at Home." NAEYC, www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/using-informational-texts. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

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Informational text is a type of nonfiction writing designed to convey knowledge about various aspects of the world, including the natural and social realms. Unlike biographies or how-to guides, which serve different purposes, informational texts focus on educating the reader about specific topics. This genre encompasses a wide range of materials such as reference books, news articles, scientific journals, and textbooks, all of which often employ technical vocabulary to enhance understanding. Informational texts typically include special features like tables of contents, glossaries, and visual aids such as graphs and illustrations, which support comprehension and engagement. People of all ages can benefit from informational text, as it equips them with essential knowledge and skills necessary for success in school, the workplace, and everyday life. To foster information literacy, educators are encouraged to introduce students to informational texts early in their education, utilizing methods such as read-aloud sessions to increase familiarity and interest. Overall, understanding informational text is a crucial skill that supports lifelong learning and informed citizenship.