Expository or informational text can be challenging for students if they are unfamiliar with nonfiction text features. Therefore, it is important to help students understand these text features when teaching nonfiction texts. Using an expository nonfiction anchor chart can be very beneficial to your students.
Creating an anchor chart does not have to be time-consuming and difficult. Also, don’t feel that you have to draw everything free-hand.
To make this anchor chart, I found a copy of a nonfiction book that I had in my classroom and did the unthinkable: I cut it apart!
This book on volcanoes had excellent examples of expository text features:
- bright photographs
- captions
- maps
- colorful headings
- bold-faced/highlighted words
- diagram
- index
- glossary
Expository Nonfiction Anchor Chart
Another advantage of choosing this wonderful book for my expository nonfiction anchor chart was that I had several copies on my shelf, so I still had plenty of books that I could use in small groups or that students could read independently.
I have to admit, I debated several minutes before I actually took my scissors and began cutting, but after I saw the end result of the anchor chart and after the students oohed and awed over it, I knew that this book was benefiting the students much more as an anchor chart than it had on my shelf. Yes, I think it was a brave move, but I have no regrets.
I used this expository nonfiction anchor chart as a class introduction to expository nonfiction texts and the students referred to it in several activities that we did in class. Use this anchor chart in a variety of ways. Here are a few suggestions.
- With an introductory mini-lesson
- With review lessons
- In small groups
- As a reference for a text features scavenger hunt
- As reference for mini-lessons on each type of text feature
If you feel brave, try creating an anchor chart of your own. I think it will be worth it!
For another article on ideas for teaching nonfiction, check out this article on reading strategies.
Have a blessed day!
Kelly
