Standard 2: Reading Informational Text

General Information
Number: ELA.6.R.2
Title: Reading Informational Text
Type: Standard
Subject: English Language Arts (B.E.S.T.)
Grade: 6
Strand: Reading

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Access Points

ELA.6.R.2.AP.1
Show how a specific text section contributes to the meaning of the text.
ELA.6.R.2.AP.2
Identify the central idea(s), implied or explicit, and its development throughout a text.
ELA.6.R.2.AP.3
Explain the purpose of two authors’ accounts of the same event or topic.
ELA.6.R.2.AP.4
Identify the types of reasoning used in an argumentative text.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Lesson Plans

The Democratic Process Lesson 6: Individual Rights:

This is Lesson 6 in the unit using the text The Democratic Process. Student will focus on text evidence and debrief with a partner as they discuss Indivisual Rights and Responsibilites connecting the importance of the rule of law.

The unit will prepare students to understand Greek and Roman influences on democracy in the United States, identify individual rights and freedoms, determine the difference between protected and unprotected rights, examine the rule of law, and evaluate the relevance of modern-day government. The activities in the unit will allow students the opportunity to participate in close reading, annotate text, and collaborate on research projects to gain a deeper understanding of democracy, government, and the rule of law.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Democratic Process Lesson 5: People and the Government:

This is lesson 5 utilizing The Democratic Process by Mark Friedman. The unit will prepare students to understand Greek and Roman influences on democracy in the United States, identify individual rights and freedoms, determine the difference between protected and unprotected rights, examine the rule of law, and evaluate the relevance of modern-day government. The activities in the unit will allow students the opportunity to participate in close reading, annotate text, and collaborate on research projects to gain a deeper understanding of democracy, government, and the rule of law.

The unit will prepare students to understand Greek and Roman influences on democracy in the United States, identify individual rights and freedoms, determine the difference between protected and unprotected rights, examine the rule of law, and evaluate the relevance of modern-day government. The activities in the unit will allow students the opportunity to participate in close reading, annotate text, and collaborate on research projects to gain a deeper understanding of democracy, government, and the rule of law.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Democratic Process: Bill of Rights - Rights and Responsibilities:

This is lesson #3 in the text unit series for The Democratic Process by Mark Friedman. The lesson will explore citizen’s individual rights, which rights were influenced by the ancient Greek and Roman democratic process, and current challenges to democracy. Students will read the text for background information, make personal and real-world connections, and research current challenges to democracy and how it impacts their lives.

The unit will prepare students to understand Greek and Roman influences on democracy in the United States, identify individual rights and freedoms, determine the difference between protected and unprotected rights, examine the rule of law, and evaluate the relevance of modern-day government. The activities in the unit will allow students the opportunity to participate in close reading, annotate text, and collaborate on research projects to gain a deeper understanding of democracy, government, and the rule of law.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Democratic Process Lesson 4: The Origins of Democracy and Republic:

This is lesson 4 for the text unit focused on The Democratic Process. Teachers can expect students to evaluate their understanding of democracy, the progression of individuals' freedoms and rights, along with the influence of the Founding Fathers. The point of this lesson is not just for students to collect textual evidence to support their original viewpoints. The unit will prepare students to understand Greek and Roman influences on democracy in the United States, identify individual rights and freedoms, determine the difference between protected and unprotected rights, examine the rule of law, and evaluate the relevance of modern-day government. The activities in the unit will allow students the opportunity to participate in close reading, annotate text, and collaborate on research projects to gain a deeper understanding of democracy, government, and the rule of law.

The unit will prepare students to understand Greek and Roman influences on democracy in the United States, identify individual rights and freedoms, determine the difference between protected and unprotected rights, examine the rule of law, and evaluate the relevance of modern-day government. The activities in the unit will allow students the opportunity to participate in close reading, annotate text, and collaborate on research projects to gain a deeper understanding of democracy, government, and the rule of law.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

Ancient Greek Government Part 2:

Once students have identified and explained the democratic principles of government in ancient Greece in Part 1, they are ready to identify the ways in which ancient Greece influenced the development of democratic principles of government in the American colonies.

In this lesson, students will analyze ways in which the democratic principles developed in ancient Greece served as a foundation for the United States constitutional republic. Students will compare the democratic principles identified in part 1 to democratic principles in modern-day American government. In groups, students will collect information from various resources, combining the information onto one poster paper, to explain the similarities and differences between the political systems of ancient Greece and the current United States government.

Type: Lesson Plan

Ancient Greek Government Part 1:

Students will research ancient Greece to learn about democratic principles of government in ancient Greece using informational texts, websites, and other resources. Students will each complete their own KWHL graphic organizer, then work with a group to paraphrase information gathered from the texts, and create a group poster containing important facts/information learned about the ancient Greek democratic principles of government. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Vacation Destination: An Introduction to Advertising:

In this lesson, students have an opportunity to make real-world connections by choosing words and phrases for effect and determining an audience and purpose for writing. They will practice using common persuasive techniques used in argumentative writing and advertisements. The lesson includes a summative assessment and rubric in which students design their own ads for a vacation destination of their choice.

Type: Lesson Plan

Introduction to the Six Essential Elements of Geography:

In this first lesson of five in a unit on the Six Essential Elements of Geography students will be introduced to geographic concepts that are used to "make sense of the world" and will have a rudimentary understanding of the Six Essential Elements and their application at the end of the lesson. Students will begin to associate the Elements with real world examples. Students will engage in notetaking. These concepts cannot be mastered in a single lesson, so it is recommended that the Six Essential Elements of Geography be taught as a unit.

Type: Lesson Plan

Analyzing Central Ideas and Details to Answer a Research Question:

In this lesson, students will formulate a research question, practice analyzing the central ideas and relevant details of informational texts they locate during a partner research activity, and then synthesize this information into an expository paragraph.

Type: Lesson Plan

Arguing for the Sake of WINNING!:

In this lesson, students will use the topic of "Banning Cell Phones in Schools" to practice identifying a topic, exploring the PROS and CONS of the topic, identifying arguments, and then supporting those arguments with details and evidence. Students will write a claim and will choose effective supporting evidence to support their claims as they write an argumentative letter.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorial

Set Sail: Analyzing the Central Idea:

Learn to identify and analyze the central idea of an informational text. In this interactive tutorial, you'll read several informational passages about the history of pirates. First, you'll learn the four-step process for pinpointing the central idea. Then you'll analyze each passage to see how the central idea is developed throughout the text.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorial

Set Sail: Analyzing the Central Idea:

Learn to identify and analyze the central idea of an informational text. In this interactive tutorial, you'll read several informational passages about the history of pirates. First, you'll learn the four-step process for pinpointing the central idea. Then you'll analyze each passage to see how the central idea is developed throughout the text.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

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