Nonfiction Text Structures Anchor Chart – Reading Set

A nonfiction text-structures anchor chart defines five expository structures with their transition words and pairs a completed reference page with a matching fill-in-the-blank practice page.

Grades: Grades 2–5, Elementary
File type: PDF
Preparation: Print ready

Updated Apr 05, 2022

Subject: Reading, ELA
Topic: Nonfiction, Anchor Chart
Resource types: Anchor Charts, Teacher Tools
Preparation: Print ready
Ontario expectations: C1.3

From the author

About this resource

This resource is a set of 2 charts">anchor charts for teaching nonfiction text structures. The first chart is complete. The second chart is fill in the blank. These charts work well displayed on a bulletin board or inserted into students' interactive reading notebooks.

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

Identify and name five nonfiction text structures: problem/solution, sequencing, description, cause/effect, and compare/contrast
Use structure-specific transition and key words (e.g., 'therefore,' 'alike,' 'first...next...finally') to recognize which structure a passage uses
Recognize that a nonfiction text can contain more than one structure even when one is dominant

Teaching tips

Post the completed chart as a permanent classroom reference during nonfiction reading units.
Use the second, blank page as a quick formative check by having students fill in definitions and key words from memory.
Pair the key-words column with a text-structure scavenger hunt in students' current nonfiction reading.

Skills covered

Nonfiction text-structure identification — students match transition words like 'therefore' and 'first, second, next' to the structure (problem/solution, sequencing, etc.) they signal.
Anchor chart reference use — students consult a five-structure comparison table while reading informational text.

Good to know

Questions teachers ask about this resource

Why does the chart note that a nonfiction text can have more than one structure even though it follows one MAIN structure?

It cautions against over-simplifying: a passage might mostly use cause-and-effect but include a brief comparison, for example, so the chart reminds students to identify the dominant structure rather than expect only one signal throughout.

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Ontario curriculum

Ontario curriculum expectations

Ontario expectations

C1.3 — Ontario Grade 4 Language C1.3: identify text patterns, such as spatial order in a graphic text, and text features, such as type styles and hyperlinks, associated with various text forms, including cultural texts, and explain how they help readers, listeners, and viewers understand the meaning.

Core concepts

Text structure
Problem and solution
Cause and effect
Compare and contrast
Sequencing

Topics

Nonfiction Anchor Chart Fill in the Blank Text Structures Anchor Chart Non Fiction Text Structure Worksheets Text Structure Chart Text Text Structure

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Categories this resource belongs to

Reading ELA Anchor Charts Teacher Tools Grade 5 Grade 4

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