Reading an informational text about a familiar topic for Primary 1

Class: Primary 1
Term: Third Term
Week: 6
Age: 6 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Studies
Curriculum Theme: Reading
Focal competence: Performing the actual act of reading
Key competencies/values: Communication; ICT and Digital Competencies; Collaboration
Skills:

• Reading skills

Previous Lesson: Blending and manipulating sounds to create new words in Phonemic Awareness
Topic: Guided Reading
Subject Matter: Reading an informational text about a familiar topic

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Identify the title and subject of a simple informational text.
• State key facts from a short informational text.
• Explain the meaning of unfamiliar words from the text with guidance.

Psychomotor Domain

• Read a selected short informational text with appropriate support.

Social Domain

• Participate collaboratively in guided reading activities.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Macmillan Primary English for Primary 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Approved publisher-neutral text (e.g., a chart with a simple story about “Our School” or “My Family”)
• Letter, word and picture cards
• Exercise books and pencils
• Real objects or charts related to the text’s topic

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important because it helps pupils develop foundational reading skills by engaging with texts that provide information. Understanding informational texts prepares them for learning across all subjects and helps them make sense of the world around them. It also builds confidence in their ability to read independently.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should be able to recognise some letters of the alphabet, blend simple sounds, and read basic sight words.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Guided Reading: Reading an Informational Text about a Familiar Topic

What is an Informational Text?

An informational text gives us facts and true information about something. It tells us about real things, people, or places.

How to Read an Informational Text

1. Look at the title to know what the text is about.
2. Read the text carefully, word by word.
3. Look for important facts and ideas.
4. Ask questions about words you do not know.

Sample Informational Text: Our School

Our school is a nice place. It has many classrooms. We learn to read and write here. Our teachers help us. We play with our friends. We love our school!

Key Facts from the Text

1. Our school is a nice place.
2. It has many classrooms.
3. We learn to read and write in school.
4. Teachers help us in school.
5. We play with friends in school.

Meaning of Unfamiliar Words

1. Nice – good, pleasant.
2. Many – a lot of something.
3. Learn – to get knowledge or a skill.
4. Friends – people you like and play with.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Explanation, Observation, Individual Practice

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating Prior Knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them what they like to read (e.g., storybooks, picture books). The teacher then explains that today they will read something that gives them information.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively.

Learning Point: Introduction to informational texts

Step 2: Presenting the Informational Text

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Presentation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a simple informational text on a chart or board (e.g., “Our School”). The teacher reads the title aloud and points to it.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the text and listen as the teacher reads the title.

Learning Point: Text title and subject

Step 3: Guided Reading of the Text

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Reading

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reads the text aloud, pointing to each word. The teacher then guides pupils to read the text together, word by word, providing support as needed.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the teacher and then read the text aloud with guidance.

Learning Point: Reading simple informational text

Step 4: Identifying Key Facts

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Comprehension/Identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks simple questions about the text to help pupils identify key facts, e.g., “What kind of place is our school?” “What do we do in school?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer the questions orally, pointing to the relevant parts of the text if possible.

Learning Point: Key facts identification

Step 5: Understanding Unfamiliar Words

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Vocabulary Building

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher identifies a few unfamiliar words from the text (e.g., “nice,” “many,” “learn,” “friends”). The teacher explains their meanings using simple language, gestures, or picture cards.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanations and repeat the new words and their meanings.

Learning Point: Meaning of new words

Step 6: Reinforcement Activity

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to choose one fact they learned about the school from the text and share it with a partner.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss a key fact with their partners.

Learning Point: Reinforcing text comprehension

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is the title of the text we read today?
2. Mention one thing our school has.
3. What do we learn to do in school?
4. What does “nice” mean in the text?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding informational text

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to copy the essential Board Summary notes about reading an informational text and the key facts into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson information

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the lesson by reminding pupils that reading informational texts helps them learn new things and encourages them to read more often. The teacher praises them for their participation.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and participate in a final brief discussion.

Learning Point: Importance of reading

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Read the short text below and answer the questions.

1. My Pet Dog
   I have a pet dog. His name is Bingo. Bingo loves to play. He likes to run and bark. Bingo eats dog food. He is my best friend.
2. What is the name of the dog?
3. What does Bingo like to do?
4. What does Bingo eat?

Lesson Keywords

• Informational text – a text that gives facts and true information.
• Title – the name of a book or text.
• Facts – true statements or information.
• Unfamiliar words – words that are new or not known.

Differentiation

For weaker learners: Provide more one-on-one support during reading. Use picture cards extensively to explain unfamiliar words. Allow them to answer questions by pointing to pictures or words in the text.
For faster learners: Encourage them to read the text independently and ask them to identify more facts or suggest other words that could be unfamiliar. They can also try to create a simple sentence using one of the new words.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For a YouTube search on “Primary 1 reading informational text”: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=primary+1+reading+informational+text

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have a suitable, large-print informational text prepared on a chart or whiteboard. The text should be simple, about a familiar topic, and contain a few words that might be new to pupils. During the lesson, model fluent reading and use gestures or realia to make the meaning clear. Guide pupils through the reading process, encouraging them to follow along and participate actively. Pay close attention to individual pupils during the guided reading to identify those needing more support. Allow pupils to copy the Board Summary notes after the main teaching and evaluation, ensuring they write neatly. Check their understanding frequently by asking simple, direct questions throughout the lesson, not just during the evaluation stage.