Read Nonfiction About Science and History
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Learning Objectives
- 1Identify key features of nonfiction text including headings, bold words, and captions
- 2Use text features to locate information quickly in a nonfiction passage
- 3Answer fact-based comprehension questions using evidence from a nonfiction text
Mini Lesson
Nonfiction text gives us true information about the real world. Science books explain how things work — like volcanoes, the water cycle, or the human body. History books tell us what happened in the past — like ancient civilizations, famous explorers, or important events.
Features of Nonfiction Text
- Headings — bold titles that tell you what each section is about.
- Bold words — important vocabulary that is often defined in a glossary.
- Captions — sentences beneath photos or diagrams that explain what you see.
- Diagrams and labels — visual aids that show how something works.
- Index and glossary — tools at the back of the book for finding and defining terms.
How to Read Nonfiction
- Read the heading first — it tells you the topic of the section.
- Scan for bold words — these are key terms worth remembering.
- Study any diagrams or photos and read their captions.
- Read the text carefully and look for facts, dates, and names.
- After reading, ask yourself: What are the most important facts?
Nonfiction uses precise language. Look for signal words like "because", "as a result", "for example", and "however" — they show how facts are connected.
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