📖 ReadingGrade 5Lesson 17
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Read nonfiction: science, technology, world events

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Identify the topic of a nonfiction article in one sentence
  • 2Use headings, captions, and bold key terms to locate information
  • 3Define science, technology, and world-event vocabulary from context
  • 4Summarize the main idea of a short nonfiction passage
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Mini Lesson

Nonfiction is writing about real things — real discoveries, real machines, real events happening in the world right now. Strong Grade 5 readers do not skim a science article the way they skim a story. They slow down, use the text features, and decide what the writer is really telling them.

Three families of nonfiction you read every week

  • Science — articles about discoveries, experiments, animals, the body, space, weather, and the natural world.
  • Technology — articles about inventions, machines, robots, apps, the internet, and how new tools change daily life.
  • World events — articles about news, elections, climate, sports, and changes happening in countries around the world.

Text features that guide a nonfiction reader

  1. Heading — the title; tells you the topic in a few words.
  2. Subheading — splits the article into smaller sections; preview before you read.
  3. Caption — a sentence under a photo, chart, or diagram; explains what you are seeing.
  4. Bold key term — a word the author wants you to remember; usually defined nearby.
  5. Chart, graph, or map — turns numbers and places into a picture you can read at a glance.
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Nonfiction is not always neutral. A news writer chooses which facts to share and which words to use. Read carefully and ask: "Is this a fact I could check, or is this the writer’s opinion?"

Three families of nonfictionThree families of nonfictionSCIENCEArticles like:How bees pollinateThe water cycleMars roversVolcano reportHuman bodyReal, testablefacts.TECHNOLOGYArticles like:New phone chipSchool robotsHow AI worksInternet safetyDrone deliveryTools thatchange life.WORLD EVENTSArticles like:Election resultsClimate reportOlympic gamesUN summitEarthquake newsNews fromeverywhere.
Anatomy of a nonfiction articleAnatomy of a nonfiction articleHeading: Mars Rover Finds Water IceSubheading — A frozen surprise undergroundThe rover scanned theregolith(loose surfacedust) and beamed images home.ChartCaption:Ice depth measuredby the rover at foursites this week.Bold key termAn important wordthe writer wantsyou to remember.Preview heading + subheading + caption first.
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Before you read a nonfiction article, do a 30-second preview: read the heading, every subheading, and every caption first. You will already know what the article is about before you read a single paragraph.

Vocabulary
nonfiction
Writing about real people, places, events, or ideas.
heading
The title of an article or section that names the topic.
caption
A short line of text under a photo, chart, or diagram.
key term
An important word, often in bold, that the author wants you to learn.
main idea
The single most important point the article is making.
source
Where the writer got the information — a book, study, expert, or website.
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← Lesson 16: Evaluate author's messageLesson 18: Use tables, charts, and graphs →