Unit Plan 11 (Grade 2 ELA): Reasons that Support Points
Second graders learn to identify an author’s point and supporting reasons in informational texts, ask clarifying questions, and use text-based evidence to explain or write opinions that connect ideas with “because.”
Focus: Using text to find reasons; simple evidence in speech/writing
Grade Level: 2
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading Informational • Writing • Speaking/Listening)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Readers don’t just say what an author thinks—they show why. This week students learn to spot an author’s point (what the author is trying to say) and the reasons that support that point in short informational texts. They’ll practice asking/answering questions to find information (RI.2.1), identify reasons that support points (RI.2.8), and then use those reasons in simple spoken explanations (SL.2.3) and opinion sentences in writing (W.2.1).
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Identify an author’s point in a short informational text and describe how reasons support that point (RI.2.8).
- Ask and answer who/what/where/when/why/how questions to locate important information in the text (RI.2.1).
- Listen to a speaker, ask a clarifying question, and repeat one reason the speaker gives (SL.2.3).
- Write a short opinion sentence or mini-paragraph that states an opinion and uses because to include a simple text-based reason (W.2.1).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 2
- RI.2.1, RI.2.8, W.2.1, SL.2.3
Success Criteria — student language
- I can name the author’s point in one sentence.
- I can find two reasons in the text that support that point.
- I can ask a question to understand a speaker and repeat one reason they said.
- I can write “I think ___ because ___ (from the text).”