South Dakota ELA 1.RI.6

ELA1st GradeReading Informational Text

The Standard

Identify the purpose of and/or point of view in a text.

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students tell why a writer made an informational text, such as to teach facts or ask readers to act. They use words in the text to tell what the writer thinks about the topic.
What Mastery Looks Like: After reading a page about bees, a student can say the writer wants to explain how bees help flowers. They can point to a sentence that shows the writer thinks bees are helpful.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think every nonfiction page only gives facts, even when the writer asks readers to act. They may give their own opinion instead of the writer's, or guess from the cover without checking the words.
How to Assess It: Read aloud, 'Bees need flowers for food. Plant flowers to help bees.' Ask, 'Why did the writer write this, and which words show what the writer thinks?'

Lesson moves

Give pairs strips reading 'Bees carry pollen' and 'Plant flowers for bees'; have them sort the strips under 'teach me' or 'ask me to act.'
Read 'Keep the pond clean so frogs can live there.' Ask, 'What does the writer think people should do? Which words tell you?'
Play Purpose Match: read cards saying 'A turtle has a hard shell' and 'Please leave turtles alone,' then match each to teach or persuade.
Compare a cafeteria 'Recycle cartons' sign with a library book page about recycling; ask what each writer wants readers to do or learn.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 1.RI.6, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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