Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts › Understand Differences Between Types of Texts
Baa, Baa Black Sheep
Baa, baa black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full;
One for the master
And one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane
What type of text is this?
Fox and Friends
Today, I woke up feeling sad. In a forest full of other animals, I do not have a friend. No one wants to be friends with me because I am a fox. When animals see me coming they run away.
As I walk to the pond, I hear laughing and a lot of splashing. I see a deer and a rabbit playing in the water. The deer is laughing and smiling. He looks very happy.
I decide to hide behind a bush and ask them if I can play. This way they can hear me but not see me. “Can I come play with you?” I yell.
The deer and rabbit look for me, but they cannot see me. The deer says, “Yes, but you have to stop hiding!”
When I come out the rabbit seems scared, but the deer comes straight to me and gives me a big hug. As I play in the pond with my two friends, I feel so happy.
How do we know that this is a fictional story, and not a true story?
Ants
Ants live in many different places around the world. There are many different species of ants. Ants come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be black, brown, red, and yellow.
Ants are insects. They have six legs and their bodies have three parts. Ants have two large eyes and two antennae on the top of their heads. They use their antennae to touch and feel. Ants communicate using their antennae. Ants also have a strong jaw. They use their jaw to cut food and wood and to fight.
Ants live in trees, grass, dirt, and in tunnels underground. A group of ants living together is called a colony. Thousands of ants can live together in one colony. Ants living in a colony have many different jobs.
The queen ant lays the eggs. Some colonies have only 1 queen ant while others have many queens. Drone ants are all males. Their job is to mate with the queen. Only the queen ant and male ants have wings. Almost all ants in a colony are females. Worker ants are all females. They take care of the eggs and baby ants. Worker ants also find food. Soldier ants guard and protect the nest. They also collect food and find places to build nests.
Ants are amazing insects.
How do you know this is an informational text?
Dear Archie,
Happy birthday! I hope you are having a good day. Today I went for a run and swam at the beach. I love summer because I can go to the beach every day. What do you like to do in the summer? What is your favorite season? I hope you write back soon!
From,
Anya
What type of text is this?
All About Dolphins
Dolphins live in the water, but they are not fish. Dolphins are mammals. A mammal is an animal that gives birth to their young, drinks milk, and is warm-blooded. Elephants, dogs, and even humans are mammals.
Dolphins live in the water, but they have to come up to the air to breathe. Dolphins breathe through a hole on top of their heads called a blowhole. Dolphins must swim to the surface multiple times a minute to breathe air.
Dolphins eat fish and other sea creatures like squid. Dolphins have teeth but they do not chew their food. Dolphins swallow fish whole.
Dolphins are very social animals. Dolphins live in groups called pods. Dolphins are very smart. They can learn fun tricks. Dolphins love to play with each other. They play with seaweed and jump above the waves. Dolphins communicate with each other by making clicking and whistling noises.
Dolphins are excellent swimmers. They have a sleek body to help them move through the water. They move their tails up and down and use their flippers to help then swim and steer. The two fins on a dolphin’s tail are called flukes.
Dolphins live in many places around the world. There are many different types of dolphins. Dolphins come in many shapes and colors. Some dolphins in South America are even pink.
Dolphins are amazing animals.
What type of text is this?
All About Dolphins
Dolphins live in the water, but they are not fish. Dolphins are mammals. A mammal is an animal that gives birth to their young, drinks milk, and is warm-blooded. Elephants, dogs, and even humans are mammals.
Dolphins live in the water, but they have to come up to the air to breathe. Dolphins breathe through a hole on top of their heads called a blowhole. Dolphins must swim to the surface multiple times a minute to breathe air.
Dolphins eat fish and other sea creatures like squid. Dolphins have teeth but they do not chew their food. Dolphins swallow fish whole.
Dolphins are very social animals. Dolphins live in groups called pods. Dolphins are very smart. They can learn fun tricks. Dolphins love to play with each other. They play with seaweed and jump above the waves. Dolphins communicate with each other by making clicking and whistling noises.
Dolphins are excellent swimmers. They have a sleek body to help them move through the water. They move their tails up and down and use their flippers to help then swim and steer. The two fins on a dolphin’s tail are called flukes.
Dolphins live in many places around the world. There are many different types of dolphins. Dolphins come in many shapes and colors. Some dolphins in South America are even pink.
Dolphins are amazing animals.
How do you know this is a non-fiction, informational text and not a fictional, made-up story?
Bella’s Birthday Surprise
Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.
Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”
“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around.
“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!” she said.
“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!
“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.
How do you know this is a fictional story and not a true story?
Bella’s Birthday Surprise
Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.
Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”
“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around.
“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!” she said.
“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!
“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.
What type of text is this?
Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
One little monkeys jumping on the bed,
He fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
No little monkeys jumping on the bed,
None fell down and bumped their head,
Papa called the doctor and the doctor said,
“Put those monkeys right to bed!”
What type of text is this?
Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
One little monkeys jumping on the bed,
He fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
No little monkeys jumping on the bed,
None fell down and bumped their head,
Papa called the doctor and the doctor said,
“Put those monkeys right to bed!”
How do you know this is a fictional story and not a true story?