Descriptive Text Structure

Figure 1 BookFlix

 

Unit Overview

This unit focuses on Descriptive Text Structure; Present, Past, and Future Tense Verbs; and Descriptive Writing.  You will be able to accomplish the following objectives by the end of this unit:

1.  I can use spelling patterns and rules to help me spell new words. L.3.2.F

2.  I can ask and answer questions to show that I understand the information that I am reading. RI.3.1

3.  I can find the answers to specific questions within informational text that I read. RI.3.1

4.  I can show what I have learned from informational text and illustrations by answering questions about where, when, why, and how. RI.3.7

5.  I can read and understand 3rd grade informational texts by myself. RI.3.10

6.  I can write to inform and explain ideas to others clearly.W.3.2

7.  I can write an informative [descriptive] text that introduces my topic and then groups related information together. W.3.2.A

8.  I can write about a topic using facts, definitions, and details. W.3.2.B

9.  I can use linking words (also, another, and, more, but, etc.) to connect the ideas in my writing. W.3.2.C

10.                   I can write conclusions (endings) to my informative pieces of writing. W.3.2.D

11.                   I can include illustrations in my writing to help others understand my topic better. W.3.2.A

12.                   I can write for short time frames or over a longer period of time depending on my purpose, audience, and topic. W.3.10

13.                   I can correctly say, write, and use different verb tenses (e.g., I walked; I walk; I will walk). L.3.1.E

 

 

Spelling List

awful

straw

along

called

drawing

bought

falling

strongest

brought

mall

longer

rough

small

song

tough

 

Let's Practice

Click on Spelling Training to practice your spelling words. Add each of your spelling words to the list.  Then, complete one of the activities below the list.

 

Vocabulary List

barn

A building on a farm where the animals live

box

A place where you can store things, usually shaped like a cube

chores

Jobs that people do, usually around the house

farmer

A person who lives and works on a farm

feathers

The covering on most birds

furious

Very angry

sign

A kind of poster that tells you something

work

To do a job of some kind

 

Above is your list of vocabulary words with their definitions.  Be sure to study and practice these words daily before you begin your reading lessons.

 

Let's Practice

Below is a Quizlet activity on your vocabulary words for the unit.  You should practice the Flashcard and Learn activities each day during the week of this unit.

 

 

 

 

 

Descriptive Text

In a text with a descriptive structure, authors use sensory and descriptive details to help reader’s visual information.  It shares the who, what, where, when, why, and how of a topic.  Watch the example below in the video.

 

 

 

Descriptive

 

A topic, idea, person, place, or thing is described by listing its features, characteristics, or examples.

signaling words:  for example, for instance, such as, that is, in describing, which was, examples are

 

 

 

Show, Don’t Tell

Strong writers show rather than tell when writing.  Descriptive words can be used to make your writing more detailed and interesting.  A describing word helps you imagine how something looks, feels, smells, sounds, or tastes.  It can explain more about a subject or a verb.  Below are some examples of how you can make your writing more detailed and interesting by adding descriptive words.

·      The snow cone sat in the sun. à The melting snow cone sat in the bright sun.

·      Many children ran toward the ocean waves. à Many excited children ran toward the crashing ocean waves.

·      My friends built a sandcastle. à My new friends built a large sandcastle.

Read the chart below to learn how to "show" different character emotions!

Nervous

His teeth chattered.

One could see her fingers trembling.

Her voice quivered.

Joyous

His smile was as wide as Ohio.

She could not stop grinning.

The child jumped up and down.

Confused

He raised one eyebrow.

His forehead wrinkled as he stared.

She stood quiet for a moment.

Angry

She folded her arms.

She held her lips tightly.

He stormed out of the room.

Surprised

He gasped.

She screamed as the door opened.

She jerked her hand backward.

Embarrassed

She covered her head with a jacket.

He walked in a different direction.

His faced turned red.

 

Let's Practice

 

 

 

IXL Skill Check – Click Add descriptive details to sentences to complete the skill.

IXL Skill Check – Click Show character emotions and traits to sentences to complete the skill.

 

 

Reading Log & Journal

Writing journals can be compelling to you as a student.  It helps you respond to your Read-Aloud and Oral Readings to gain further understanding.  You must write at least one journal per unit in this course based on one of your readings.  Click on the Unit Resource icon to the left of your screen to download the Reading Log & Journal template.  Also, you have an option to create your journal book for this course.

 

 

Reading

The above two stories will be used for your Read Aloud and Oral Reading activities. 

 

Read-Aloud

Your read-aloud is a fiction story called "Duck for President." Fiction tells about things that are imaginary, or make-believe, while nonfiction tells about things that happen in real life.

Duck was tired of his chores on Farmer Brown's farm. Duck didn't like to take out the trash, mow the lawn, and grind the coffee beans. So, he organized an election to pick someone kinder as head of the farm. Has this ever happened to you? What did you do?

Before reading/watching the video, let’s makes some connections by thinking about the following questions:

·      Think about a time when you had a lot to do and were very busy. How did you handle all of the work?

·      What would you do if you wanted to get out of doing work?

When you read fiction (stories that are not real), it is helpful to think about the sequence of events, the most important characters, and the settings in the story. When you retell and summarize, it is important to describe what happened first, next, then, and last. It is also important to tell who did what and where each event took place.

Click the image below to begin your read-aloud activity.

 

 

Did you hear the new vocabulary words? Did it help you to know what those words meant before you watched the video?

Think about the characters, events, and the settings in Duck for President. How does paying attention to the story elements help you to be a better reader?

Let's Practice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oral Reading

Your oral reading is a nonfiction text called "Election Day." This text introduces readers to the process of voting on election day. You will be reading (or listening to) a nonfiction book about elections. A nonfiction book contains true facts about a subject. While you read this story, pick out the facts about voting and elections.

Click the image below to begin your oral reading activity.

What facts about voting and elections did you learn while reading?

Let's Practice

 

 

 

Verb Tenses

 

 

 

Verb tenses tell us when an action is taking place.  There are three main verb tenses.

Present

Past

Future

The present tense of a verb tells that something is happening now.

 

The past tense of a verb tells that something already happened.

The future tense of a verb tells that something will happen later.

 

The apple tastes good.

I ate the apple.

I will eat that apple soon.

 

I draw pictures at school.

I drew a picture at school.

I will draw a picture for you.

I jump in gym class.

I jumped over the box in gym class.

 

I will jump over the hurdles in gym class.

 

Let's Practice

 

 

 

 

 

 

IXL Skill Check – Click Is the sentence in the past, present, or future tense? to complete the skill.

 

Informative Writing

Below is your video and activity from the Informational Writing for Kids series provided by Teaching Without Frills.

Now that you have a topic, you should be ready to make a plan!

In Episode 3, you will think about the structure of your book and the subtopics that you will include.

 

 

 

Click here to complete an activity based on the video above.

 

Descriptive Text Writing

Informational text is a type of nonfiction that tells about a topic using facts.  It has a topic sentence and supporting details.  The author’s purpose is to inform the reader about that topic.  In this unit, we explored an informational text structure called Descriptive (Description).  A description structure tells us about something.

Let's Practice

Please read and listen to the descriptive writing sample titled “My Favorite Place to Go”. 

This writing sample is based on an essay submitted by fourth-grader Mia. She uses some vivid verbs and sensory details in her writing.

As your read and listen, identify the following items:

·      Beginning – Middle - Ending

·      Topic - Details

·      Descriptive words

·      Sensory details

“My Favorite Place to Go”

     Do you have a favorite place to go—a place with family, good weather, and fun things to do like crabbing? I’m glad I do. New Jersey is my favorite place for many reasons.

 

     The first reason is my family. Over half of my family lives in New Jersey. When I visit, my cousins and I laugh and play all day and night. My uncles and aunts take me to the boardwalk where we ride roller coasters. We devour juicy caramel-covered apples and foot-long hot dogs. My family is fun to be with.

 

     The second reason for New Jersey being my favorite place is the weather. Instead of being hot and sweaty, it’s always cool and moist. When I think about my visits, I can just feel the crisp fall breeze in my hair. I can just see the white, fluffy winter snow. I can just hear the soft spring trickles of rain splashing on the sidewalks. I can just feel the warm summer sun on my face. The weather is great!

 

     The third reason for New Jersey being my favorite place is crabbing. If it’s crab season, we crab. We keep the blue crabs and the snow crabs, and we let the others go. Sometimes we catch crabs on hooks, and sometimes we lower crab cages into the bay. Then we pull them out later. One time my brother caught a crab so big that it got stuck in the crab cage! The crab finally got out, but it hurt one of its legs and broke the cage trying. Poor crab!

 

     For all these reasons, New Jersey is my favorite place to go. If you don’t have a favorite place, I think you should search for one. It’s good to visit a favorite place—a place where you can make special memories. By the way, if you crab at your special place, be sure to get a big crab cage.

Click here for a printed version.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cursive Handwriting

Who Am I?

 

I wear pretty pink feathers, like a gown.

My stance is ALWAYS one leg up and one leg down.

My skinny limbs are tired and cry, “It isn’t fair.”

“I need a chair.”

Who is it?  Scroll…

 

On…

 

Down…

 

With…

 

Care…

 

 

 

 

 

The word flamingo starts with the cursive lowercase letter that begins with an undercurve stroke. Look at how the cursive lowercase letter is formed.



Now, you are going to practice writing the cursive letter “f” and join it to other letters.  Click on the Unit Resource icon to the left of your screen to practice the Cursive Letter “f”.

 

Who Am I?

 

My nickname is “Roo," and I do

Have a pocket.

I can fill it and fill it and still

Never lock it.

Let me add with pride, “My babies can ride

Quick, like a rocket!”

Who is it?  Scroll…

 

On…

 

Down…

 

Don’t knock it!

 

The word kangaroo also starts with the cursive lowercase letter that begins with an undercurve stroke.  Let’s look at how the cursive lowercase letter k is formed.

 


Now, you are going to practice writing the cursive letter “k” and join it to other letters.  Click on the Unit Resource icon to the left of your screen to practice the Cursive Letter “k”.