CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.5
The Standard
Explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information, drawing on a wide reading of a range of text types.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literature
What This Standard Means
Students need to sort books by purpose. They should tell when a book is made-up with characters, setting, and events, and when a book teaches facts about a topic. They also need language for both kinds, like story, character, problem, fact, heading, photo, and caption.
Mastery looks like a child picking up a new book, naming the type, and giving a clear reason from the pages. Students often get stuck when an information book has a story-like cover, or when a fiction book includes true facts, like animal details.
Ways to Teach It
- Hands-on activity: Give partners a mixed book basket and two labeled mats, Stories and Information, then have them sort and defend each choice.
- Prompt: After reading two short books about dogs, ask, Which book tells a story, and which book teaches facts? How do you know?
- Quick assessment: Show three book covers and one inside page from each, then have students mark S or I on a sticky note.
- Real-world connection: Bring in a recipe, a menu, and a picture book, then ask which texts help us learn information and which tell a story.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.5
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.9
Identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures).
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.5
Recognize common types of texts (e.g., storybooks, poems).
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.6
Distinguish between information provided by pictures or other illustrations and information provided by the words in a text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.9
Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres (e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories) in terms of their approaches to similar...