​Informational Text

Informational text is writing that gives facts about a subject.

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The subject is a simple one-or-two word topic. So, for instance, "hot dogs" could be a subject.

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It's the most general level of a text.

​Informational Text

The main idea is whatever the text says about the subject. It's usually a sentence.

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​If our subject were "hot dogs," the main idea could be "what hot dogs are made of," or "the history of the hot dog," or "how to cook a hot dog."

​Informational Text

​Supporting ideas and details provide the reader with information that develops the main idea.

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If you can spot the main idea and supporting information, you're on your way to being able to summarize informational text.

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​Read this short informational text:

​Frogs might be cute, but many frogs are poisonous. The golden poison dart frog is deadly. Not only is it the world's most deadly frog, but it is also an endangered species. The corroboree frog produces its own poison. It can be found in Australia. The red-backed poison frog is harmful to the touch. Even though it is smaller than your thumbnail, it can still cause injury to humans.

​​Read this short informational text:

​Many insects blend in with nature to protect themselves. Stick insects fool their enemies because they look like twigs. Not only do they look like twigs and stems, but they can shed and regrow legs! Stick insects live on almost every continent. Katydids can hide in plain sight because they look like leaves. Because they are the same size and color as a leaf, they are able to easily hide from birds and bats. The dead leaf butterfly looks like a dead or decaying leaf. Found in tropical rain forests, these butterflies eat fruit and tree sap. They only fly if they are threatened.

Why does this matter?

​Summarizing is an important life skill.

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If you can spot the main idea and supporting information, you're on your way to being able to summarize informational text.

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