Author's Purpose 2nd Grade Unit

This is a three-lesson unit on Author’s purpose, designed for second grade. Each lesson focuses on one of three purposes: to entertain, to inform, or to persuade. Lesson one (entertain) is based on The Adventures of Taxi Dog, by Sal Barracca. Lesson 2 (inform) is based on the nonfiction book Apples, by Gail Gibbons. Lesson three (persuade) includes 2 downloadable and printable nonfiction texts. The Adventures of Taxi Dog, by Sal Barracca. These lessons emphasize the use of text evidence to draw conclusions about the author's purpose. In order to access some lesson materials you will need to register with this site, but registration is free.

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Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives:

Learning Goal:

Identify text evidence that shows the author’s purpose is to entertain.
Identify text evidence that shows the author’s purpose is to inform.
Identify text evidence that shows that the author’s purpose is to persuade.
Draw a conclusion about what the author is trying to persuade the reader to do or think.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level:

Understanding

Differentiation suggestions:

Lesson 1 Tip:

Scaffold learning by having students underline text evidence that supports the author’s purpose in the Independent Practice passage.

Lesson 2 Tip:

Make a game out of it! For the Guided Practice, students can sort stacks of books into two categories according to their purpose— written to entertain or written to inform. The first group to accurately sort their books into the two categories wins!

Helpful Hints

Necessary Materials:

Provided:

Direct Teaching Example Chart
“A Lion in the Bedroom” Passage
Independent Practice Worksheet
Independent Practice Passage “Bare Bones”
“Becoming Expert Readers” Letter
“Banning Junk Food” Letter
Direct Teaching Example Chart
Independent Practice Letter and Worksheet

Not Provided:

The Adventures of Taxi Dog by Debra and Sal Barracca
Chart paper
Markers
Books from classroom library
Apples by Gail Gibbons

References

Contributors:

Kathryn Pattullo

Originator:

Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation