Public Domain Works
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Reading and Writing Workshop
Informational Texts and Research
The theme is “Discovering the World,” and it focuses on main idea, supporting details, text features, and research. Each session uses public domain works with complete URLs, aligned to:
Session 1: What is Informational Text?
Focus: Identify features of informational texts (headings, captions, bold words, etc.)
Text: “The World Book Encyclopedia – Introduction to Encyclopedias”
Activity: Identify and label text features in a sample article
Public Domain Text:
“The New Student’s Reference Work” (1914) – Entry: Encyclopedia
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56378
Session 2: Finding the Main Idea
Focus: Determine the main idea of a short article
Text: “Natural Wonders: Niagara Falls” (adapted from early encyclopedias)
Activity: Highlight key sentences, summarize in one sentence
Public Domain Text:
“Niagara Falls” in The World’s Famous Orations (1906)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18843
Session 3: Identifying Supporting Details
Focus: Identify and list details that support the main idea
Text: “The Amazon Rainforest”
Activity: Create a main idea and supporting detail web
Public Domain Text:
“Amazon River” from The New Student’s Reference Work (1914)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56378 (search “Amazon River”)
Session 4: Using Text Features to Understand Meaning
Focus: Use bold words, captions, and headings to improve comprehension
Text: “Volcanoes and Earthquakes”
Activity: Match definitions with bolded vocabulary; create glossary
Public Domain Text:
“Volcano” from Chambers’s Encyclopaedia (1901)
https://archive.org/details/chamberssencyclo12cham/page/264
(Note: Search "Volcano" within the volume)
Session 5: Conducting a Mini Research Project
Focus: Research a world landmark using a reference source
Activity: Use guiding questions to gather facts on the Great Wall of China
Public Domain Text:
“The Great Wall of China” from Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th ed., 1910–1911)
https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediabri12chisrich/page/661
Session 6: Organizing Research Notes
Focus: Take notes and organize using a graphic organizer
Text: “Deserts of the World”
Activity: Categorize facts by location, climate, and wildlife
Public Domain Text:
“Desert” from The New Student’s Reference Work (1914)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56378 (search “Desert”)
Session 7: Writing an Informational Paragraph
Focus: Use research notes to write a paragraph with a topic sentence, details, and conclusion
Activity: Students choose a biome (rainforest, tundra, desert) and write a report
Model Text:
“Tundra” from The Children’s Book of Nature (1902)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47187
Session 8: Vocabulary and Word Meaning
Focus: Determine meaning of academic words using context clues and glossaries
Activity: Create word maps using content-area words from previous sessions
Text: “Mountains of the World”
Public Domain Text:
“Mountains” from The World’s Wonders (1883)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14707
The theme is “Discovering the World,” and it focuses on main idea, supporting details, text features, and research. Each session uses public domain works with complete URLs, aligned to:
- RI.6.2 – Determine main idea
- W.6.7 – Conduct short research projects
- W.6.8 – Gather relevant information
- L.6.4 – Determine meaning of words
Session 1: What is Informational Text?
Focus: Identify features of informational texts (headings, captions, bold words, etc.)
Text: “The World Book Encyclopedia – Introduction to Encyclopedias”
Activity: Identify and label text features in a sample article
Public Domain Text:
“The New Student’s Reference Work” (1914) – Entry: Encyclopedia
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56378
Session 2: Finding the Main Idea
Focus: Determine the main idea of a short article
Text: “Natural Wonders: Niagara Falls” (adapted from early encyclopedias)
Activity: Highlight key sentences, summarize in one sentence
Public Domain Text:
“Niagara Falls” in The World’s Famous Orations (1906)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18843
Session 3: Identifying Supporting Details
Focus: Identify and list details that support the main idea
Text: “The Amazon Rainforest”
Activity: Create a main idea and supporting detail web
Public Domain Text:
“Amazon River” from The New Student’s Reference Work (1914)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56378 (search “Amazon River”)
Session 4: Using Text Features to Understand Meaning
Focus: Use bold words, captions, and headings to improve comprehension
Text: “Volcanoes and Earthquakes”
Activity: Match definitions with bolded vocabulary; create glossary
Public Domain Text:
“Volcano” from Chambers’s Encyclopaedia (1901)
https://archive.org/details/chamberssencyclo12cham/page/264
(Note: Search "Volcano" within the volume)
Session 5: Conducting a Mini Research Project
Focus: Research a world landmark using a reference source
Activity: Use guiding questions to gather facts on the Great Wall of China
Public Domain Text:
“The Great Wall of China” from Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th ed., 1910–1911)
https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediabri12chisrich/page/661
Session 6: Organizing Research Notes
Focus: Take notes and organize using a graphic organizer
Text: “Deserts of the World”
Activity: Categorize facts by location, climate, and wildlife
Public Domain Text:
“Desert” from The New Student’s Reference Work (1914)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56378 (search “Desert”)
Session 7: Writing an Informational Paragraph
Focus: Use research notes to write a paragraph with a topic sentence, details, and conclusion
Activity: Students choose a biome (rainforest, tundra, desert) and write a report
Model Text:
“Tundra” from The Children’s Book of Nature (1902)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47187
Session 8: Vocabulary and Word Meaning
Focus: Determine meaning of academic words using context clues and glossaries
Activity: Create word maps using content-area words from previous sessions
Text: “Mountains of the World”
Public Domain Text:
“Mountains” from The World’s Wonders (1883)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14707