key ideas and details middle grades informational text · middle grades informational text key...

Middle Grades Informational Text

Key Ideas and Details

R.8.3 Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories).

English Language Arts Standards » Reading: Informational Text » Grade 8

After students have had opportunity to do additional reading about the Food Chain and Food Webs, students can demonstrate their knowledge of connections and relationships between and among organisms using the Fact Mapper tool.

Define what types of organisms and how many of each must appear as well as asking student to choose illustrations that will show an understanding of each type of consumer.




The Food Chain Using the Fact Mapper


Alternate Assessments for Key Ideas and Details



Have students use their Vocabulary List created using the affixes to help them with the classification of various organisms. To identify/classify various organisms as examples of specific types of consumers, have students brainstorm a list of organisms or provide a list for them.

Have students choose a color to symbolize a particular type of consumer and highlight all the organisms on the list that fit that classification based on definition.




Highlighting of Organisms done based on Herbivore, Carnivore or Omnivore


Middle Grades Informational TextAfter using the colors to signify the various types of consumers, students click on the Collect Highlights button to group each type together.

Then students add a legend for easy identification. Easy to be assessed as well. Additional examples can be added.

If this is too many organisms to classify at one time or in the beginning, present fewer or try using a modified format called, 4-Square Vocabulary Concepts.

This format will allow student to examine just three or four organisms at one time.

Students can also create these for practice.


Too many to classify? Try using a modified format called, 4-Square Vocabulary Concepts.

Examine four organisms at one time and look for what they have in common.

Even leave one box empty and ask that the student give you an example that fits the classification of the other three.


Another version is to list four organisms. Students must examine the four to determine which one does not belong to the group because its classification is different.

Students must be able to explain what the classification of the organism that does not belong is.

key ideas and details middle grades informational text · middle grades informational text key...

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