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2nd Grade Informational Writing Unit

Have you been wondering how to teach information report writing to 2nd graders? It’s frustrating when your school doesn’t provide a writing curriculum (or worse, it’s an awful one). Have you found yourself googling ‘how do you teach second graders informational writing?!’ If so, don’t worry! I’m here to help! I’m going to share all about my 2nd grade informational writing unit.

2nd grade informational writing unit second grade writing curriculum informative information report non fiction expository lesson plans

What’s included in this 2nd grade Informational writing unit?

First up, you’re provided with everything you need to organize your lesson planning. There’s a list of common core standards that align with the unit, suggestions for differentiation, and suggested lesson times. Also, there’s a unit scope, at-a-glance calendar, list of materials, and a video overview to help you implement the unit!

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing unit scope lesson plans outline sequence
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing planning

Information writing 2nd grade Lesson plans

Next, there are 25 step-by-step expository writing lesson plans. These one page scripted plans are easy to grab and teach! The lessons in this unit follow a simple format of mini lesson, think and share, and independent writing time. There’s a short script and differentiation is included for the writing tasks.

This is NOT one of those big box curriculums where you have to sift through 10 pages of background teacher information for each lesson or read from the most BORING script. I hear so many teachers say that those curriculums are “Not teacher friendly, wordy and annoying to follow. SO many pages to read for just one lesson!“

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing scripted lesson plans non fiction expository information report writing

Informative writing posters

Next up, this unit includes 18 information writing posters. These informational writing anchor charts are a great way to share definitions, give examples, and explain concepts. They are used during the mini lesson but can also be displayed while students are writing (as reminders). Whether you’re teaching expository writing introductions or conclusions, there’s a poster to cover it!

The information report writing posters also help with brainstorming. For example, the posters will give non-fiction writing topic ideas.

There are so many topics covered. For example, you’ll find a poster about the structure of informational writing, as well as posters on things like paraphrasing, illustrations, and a table of contents.

When teaching this genre, I highly recommend using informative writing posters!

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing anchor charts non fiction expository posters information report writing introduction
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing anchor charts non fiction expository posters information report writing paragraph structure conclusion

Non-Fiction Mentor Texts

This 2nd grade informational writing unit includes six original mentor texts so you don’t have to source your own. These expository writing examples are a game-changer!

These report writing samples are written in a similar style to the writing that your students will produce. This gives them a clear idea of what their writing should be like.

Each mentor text features examples of every writing component taught in this unit. You’ll see illustrations and annotations, along with things like a table of contents and clear subtopics.

As every mentor text includes these concepts, this means that students will be exposed to the concepts before they are even taught them (early in the unit). Later in the unit, they will refresh their memory on ones already taught with the continued exposure.

These informative writing examples give constant exposure to the features of the genre, which really helps students!

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit example grade 2 informative writing sample non fiction expository information report writing mentor texts

Click here to grab the unit from this website you’re on right now. Use the code TERRIFIC10 at checkout to save 10%!

Informative writing prompts, graphic organizers, and worksheets

Whether you’re looking for informative writing prompts, information writing graphic organizers, or non-fiction writing worksheets, you’re in the right place!

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing

I hear many teachers say that the big box curriculum that they are provided with is so boring for students. That’s why I made sure that this unit has ENGAGING student activities!

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing

In this unit, students are NOT told to just ‘go off and write’ as if that will magically make them good writers! In this unit, each concept is explicitly taught and students learn all about the structure and features of expository writing. They use the printables to work on what they have learned.

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing

Interactive notebooks

How do you make expository writing fun? Writing lessons should be enjoyable for your students, so that’s why I recommend interactive notebooks.

Students love hands-on activities and this unit includes two informative writing interactive notebooks!

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing interactive notebook
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing interactive notebook
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing interactive notebook

EDITING CHECKLISTS

How do you teach students to edit and revise their writing? An information writing editing checklist, of course!

At the end of this unit, students write a first draft and proofread their work using two expository writing editing checklists. One is a more general 2nd grade writing editing checklist for things like spelling and punctuation.

The other is specifically a non-fiction writing checklist that focuses on areas like subtopics and facts.

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing editing checklist revising self peer assessment
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing editing checklist revising self peer assessment

WRITING FOLDER

Next up, you’ll need a writing notebook cover or writing folder cover page!

There’s a workbook cover provided in this unit that comes in boy and girl versions! You can choose between the wording ‘folder, journal, or notebook’.

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing book cover folder journal notebook label

Interested in the unit? Click here to grab it from TPT!

‘All About’ Book Template

At the end of this unit, students create an all about animals book as their final writing piece. They choose an animal and write on the animal research report template.

The report writing template is very versatile! There are dotted and plain line versions, with pages that have small and large amounts of lines. There are blank lined pages, as well as more scaffolded ones where sentence frames are provided to prompt students.

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing all about book template animal research booklet
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing all about book template animal research booklet

Publishing party

The unit ends with a publishing party! Writing certificates and compliment notes are handed out. Students get an opportunity to share their work with the class!

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing certificates publishing party
2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing compliment note peer feedback publishing party

Early finishers

If you have students who finish early, you don’t have to tell them to ‘read a book’ or frantically find something else to entertain them or extend them. In this unit, 24 informative writing task cards are provided. These informational writing prompt task cards feature fun topics for students to respond to.

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing early finisher writing prompt task cards fast finishers extention activities

Report WRITING ASSESSMENT RUBRIC

This unit starts and finishes with an expository writing assessment. There’s a writing prompt ‘all about my home’. This is the informative writing pre-assessment. Then, there is the ‘all about’ booklet which is an information writing post assessment.

The informational writing rubric gets used twice! It comes with lots of directions, examples, and elaborations to help you understand it.

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing assessment rubric grading

A great thing about this unit –

This unit is student and teacher friendly! Color and black and white options are always given. The teacher directions and hyperlinked table of contents make each document easy to navigate and understand. The mentor texts come in PDF and PowerPoint versions. The certificates and book covers come in boy and girl versions. The worksheets often have dotted and plain line versions. This unit has been designed to be easy to implement!

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing all about book template animal research booklet

WHAT LESSONS ARE TAUGHT IN THis 2nd grade informational writing UNIT?

Here’s a look at the lessons:

First, lessons 1-5

  • What is informational writing?
  • Is it informational writing?
  • I am an expert
  • Choosing subtopics
  • What is a definition?

Then, lessons 6-10

  • What is a fact?
  • Paraphrasing
  • Illustrations and annotations
  • The butterfly life cycle
  • The introduction

Also, lessons 11-15

  • The rainforest
  • The conclusion
  • Paragraphs
  • Subheadings
  • Table of contents

After that, lessons 16-20

  • Brainstorming
  • Researching
  • Planning
  • The first draft part 1
  • The first draft part 2

Finally, lessons 20-25

  • Time to revise
  • Time to edit
  • The final draft part 1
  • The final draft part 2
  • Publishing party

Are you short on time?

This 5 week unit has EVERYTHING you need, because let’s be honest, teachers are time poor.

Let’s get your evenings and weekends back, my friend! Take a break from lesson planning and searching for engaging materials. It’s all right here.

This unit comes from Terrific Writing. It’s a curriculum that is standards based (to the common core) and genre based.

Are you struggling to teach writing? Do your students hate writing lessons?

Does your school not provide you with a writing curriculum? Or worse, is it awful? 

What if there was a way for your writing lessons to be engaging for students and enjoyable for you to teach?

Check out unit 3 of Terrific Writing today! Click here to grab it on Teachers Pay Teachers.

2nd grade writing curriculum second grade informational writing unit grade 2 informative writing non fiction expository information report writing

WANNA SAVE 10%?

Click here to grab the unit from this website you’re on right now. Use the code TERRIFIC10 at checkout!

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Comments

  1. Laura B Terrell says

    Thank you! I used to be a teacher but now work as a substitute teacher. Sometimes, when teachers leave assignments for the students, the students claim that they did not receive the information. I always need relevant assignments to ensure that I can keep my students on track. I have found this website to be incredibly helpful in this regard.

    Reply

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