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Table of Contents
Expanding Vocabulary..................................................................................................................... 2
Reading Longer and Stronger with Nonfiction....................................................................... 3
Non-Fiction Text Features ............................................................................................................. 7
Predict and Activate ....................................................................................................................... 8
Main Idea and Supporting Details Fingers and Palm ........................................................... 9
Main Idea and Supporting Details Boxes and Bullets ......................................................... 10
Wow! Really!? Cool! ........................................................................................................................ 11
Science Topics of Study ................................................................................................................ 12
Social Studies Topics of Study .................................................................................................... 13
Stop and Jot .................................................................................................................................... 14
KWL .................................................................................................................................................... 15
Facts, Opinions, and Changes in Thinking.............................................................................. 16
Q & A ................................................................................................................................................. 17
Conflicting Information ................................................................................................................ 18
Authors Purpose in Nonfiction .................................................................................................. 19
Prewriting About Your Nonfiction Reading ~ Source #1 ................................................. 20
Prewriting About Your Nonfiction Reading ~ Source #2 ................................................. 21
Writing About Your Nonfiction Reading ................................................................................. 22
Word Catcher ~ Nonfiction Reading Glossary ...................................................................... 24

Expanding Vocabulary
Readers pay attention when they come across new words they dont know, because
every new word is a chance to become a better reader. Researchers say that you
should learn 1,000 new words every year! You should be collecting new words in
your Word Catcher (in the glossary of this notebook). It takes time to get to know
a new word, and its best to work on it a little bit every day. Try these strategies:
1. Choose a new word every day and make a conscious effort to use the word
when you talk and write for that whole entire day. Highlight the word in your
writing, and define the word after you use it when you talk!
2. When you find a new word, take the time to link the new word with something
you care about, like a person or hobby that is very special to you. Keep a record of
this word association to help you remember the new word.
3. When you come across a new word, try to replace that word with a synonym
that makes sense. Create an ongoing word web of words and synonyms. This will
grow as you learn new words all year.

New Words

Reading Longer and Stronger with Nonfiction

Date

Book Title

Minutes

Pages

Reading Longer and Stronger with Nonfiction

Date

Book Title

Minutes

Pages

Reading Longer and Stronger with Nonfiction

Date

Book Title

Minutes

Pages

Reading Longer and Stronger with Nonfiction

Date

Book Title

Minutes

Pages

Non-Fiction Text Features

During the video, take notes on all the kinds of text features for
non-fiction books. Write the purpose of each text feature.
__ __ __ __ & __ __ __ __ __ __ Words: _____________________
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P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _: _______________
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H _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _ & S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ : _______________
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M _ _ _: ______________________________________________
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G _ _ _ _ _ & C _ _ _ _ _ : _________________________________
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C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Under Pictures:_____________________________
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Table of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ :__________________________________
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I_ _ _ _ :______________________________________________
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G _ _ _ _ _ _ _: ________________________________________
7

Predict and Activate

Good readers browse a nonfiction book and anticipate what they will be
reading about. This helps the reader get revved up to read. Use the text
features to browse the nonfiction text and get yourself ready to read.

Nonfiction Text Feature

Clues and Hypothesis

Background Knowledge

(Write the text feature

(Write what you notice

(Write what you know

you looked at)

and predict)

about the topic)

Main Idea and Supporting Details Fingers and Palm

Directions: As you read, look for tiny details from the text. Write each important
fact on a finger. These are called supporting details.

Use the supporting details to think of the main idea. What is the text all about?
What is the topic? What is the big idea about the topic? Write the main idea in the
palm of the hand.
9

Main Idea and Supporting Details Boxes and Bullets

Use these boxes to sort information. Use bullets to write supporting details in each box.
Use all the supporting details to think of the main idea, and write it in the oval.

10

Wow! Really!? Cool!

When readers read, they pay attention to the strong reactions that they have to
the text. This means you are learning something new! Use this form to help you
get ready to talk about your topic by capturing your ideas while you read. Use the
prompts to help you grow deep thoughts that you can share with your partner.

Topic: ______________________________________
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11

Science Topics of Study

Here is a list of science topics. This will help make sure you are learning all a fourth grader needs to know about
science. Remember to use the resources in the room, as well as library books and the internet, to answer each
question, and check it off the list after you have become an expert on the topic.

Science Questions

Answers (Write more in your notebook!)

Who are important people in

science and what did they discover?

What are properties of matter?
What are physical and chemical
changes? How do they work?
Why do physical properties stay the
same after a physical change?
Why do physical properties change
after a chemical change?
What is a force? How do forces act
over a distance?

How does electricity work? (What

are conductors and insulators?)
How do magnets work?
What are the systems of the body
and what do they do?
What are vertebrates and
invertebrates?
How do animals adapt to survive?
How does energy flow through a
food chain or food web?

What is the water cycle? What are

the parts of the water cycle?

How can you predict the weather?

What is a revolution and a
rotation? How are they different?

12

Dates

Social Studies Topics of Study

Here is a list of social studies topics. This will help make sure you are learning all a fourth grader needs to know
about social studies. Remember to use the resources in the room, as well as library books and the internet, to
answer each question, and check it off the list after you have become an expert on the topic.

Social Studies Questions

Answers (Write more in your notebook!)

What is the history of South

Dakota?

What are the significant turning

points in the development of SD?
Who are some important people in
the history of South Dakota?
What happened to the Native
Americans when white settlers
came to South Dakota?

What are the different regions of

the United States? (Describe them!)
What are the important
geographical features of the USA?
What are the states and capitals?
How did the states develop with
the expanse of settlers?

How did South Dakota (and other

states) become a state?

What is citizenship and what do

responsible citizens do?

How do state economics work

around the country?

13

Dates

Stop and Jot

Remember, when you read nonfiction, you are filling your brain with lots of new
information. To make sure you dont forget it all, stop and jot when your brain
gets full. After you write the information, you should think and write about it to
get ready for when you will teach others about it.

Notes from the Reading

What you THINK about it

14

KWL

15

Facts Opinions and Changes in Thinking

16

Q &A
Readers look for patterns in nonfiction books and use the patterns to grow
really deep ideas. One way that we do this is by asking genuine questions
and seeking answers to those questions.
Topic: __________________________________________________________

Questions While Reading

(Huh? Why? How come? I wonder

But what about?)

Answers to your Questions

Read on to get an answer, or infer

an answer to your question.

17

Conflicting Information
Sometimes when you read many different books on the same topic, you will
come across conflicting information. That means that the different sources
say different things about the topic, and you have to decide what to believe.
Use this form to keep track of the different facts from your two sources.

18

Authors Purpose in Nonfiction

Authors have a purpose for writing nonfiction, just like they have a purpose for
writing fiction. Use your anchor charts to help you think about what the author is
trying to say. Use this form to help you examine how an authors ideas are
developed throughout a text. What is the author trying to tell you?
What is the topic?

What is the source?

Who is the author? What do you know about him or her?

What does the author say or believe? (Main Idea)

What is the authors evidence or reasoning?

What does the author do to try to get YOU to change your thinking?

Are you Convinced? Why or why not?

19

Prewriting About Your Nonfiction Reading ~ Source #1

Once readers have explored many sources on the same topic, they are ready
to start writing about it. Its important for you to have your own thoughts
and opinions and decide which author to believe and what ideas you agree
with. Use this form to help you organize your thinking and start prewriting.
Remember to use the prompts to help you grow ideas!
What is the topic?

What is the source?

What does the author say?

What do YOU say?

Thesis (Topic Sentence)

20

Prewriting About Your Nonfiction Reading ~ Source #2

Once readers have explored many sources on the same topic, they are ready
to start writing about it. Its important for you to have your own thoughts
and opinions and decide which author to believe and what ideas you agree
with. Use this form to help you organize your thinking and start prewriting.
Remember to use the prompts to help you grow ideas!
What is the topic?

What is the source?

What does the author say?

What do YOU say?

Thesis (Topic Sentence)

21

Writing About Your Nonfiction Reading

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Word Catcher ~ Nonfiction Reading Glossary

Date

Word

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Word Meaning

24

Synonym

Word Catcher ~ Nonfiction Reading Glossary

Date

Word

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Word Meaning

25

Synonym

Word Catcher ~ Nonfiction Reading Glossary

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Word Meaning

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Synonym

Word Catcher ~ Nonfiction Reading Glossary

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Word Meaning

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Synonym

Word Catcher ~ Nonfiction Reading Glossary

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Word Meaning

28

Synonym

Word Catcher ~ Nonfiction Reading Glossary

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29

Synonym

Word Catcher ~ Nonfiction Reading Glossary

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Synonym