CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.2

ELA1st GradeText Types and Purposes

The Standard

Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students write a short piece that tells readers about one topic. They name the topic, include relevant facts, and finish with a sentence that wraps up the information.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student names the topic clearly and gives two or more accurate, connected facts. The writing ends with a simple closing sentence and can be understood without the student explaining it aloud.
Common Misconceptions: Students may write a story or opinion instead of giving facts. They may list unrelated details, copy facts without understanding them, or stop without a closing sentence.
How to Assess It: Give this exit ticket: “Write three sentences about frogs. Name the topic, include two facts, and end with a closing sentence.”

Lesson moves

Give pairs a photo and fact cards about penguins, then have them sort facts and build a short informational page.
Ask students to write: “What should a reader learn about your animal, and which facts will teach it?”
Play Fact or Not by reading animal statements, then have students sort them and use two verified facts in sentences.
Examine a school object, such as a pencil, and write a class page naming it, explaining its use, and adding a closing sentence.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.2, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Learning progression

See the whole path on the Writing progression map.

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

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