Writing Facts About a Topic
A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on writing an informative piece that names a topic, supplies facts about it and closes.
Writing Facts About a Topic is a free 40-minute Grade 1 English lesson plan for Common Core standard W.1.2 — write about a topic with some facts and an ending. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 1
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- W.1.2
Grade 1 · Writing
W.1.2
Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
Objective
Students will be able to write an informative piece with a topic sentence, at least three facts and a closing sentence.
Students are successful when they can
- Names the topic in the first sentence.
- Writes three facts, not opinions.
- Ends with a closing sentence.
What you need
- A topic every student knows about
- A fact-collecting list
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — collect ten facts
5 min- Take ten facts about the class topic, fast.
- Cross out any that are opinions.
Teach — topic, facts, close
13 min- Write the topic sentence. It names the topic and nothing else.
- Add three facts from the list, one sentence each.
- Slip an opinion into the middle deliberately. Ask the class to find it.
- Take it out and say why: this piece is teaching, not persuading.
- Write the close: 'Now you know three things about bats.'
“You are teaching somebody. What you think about it can wait for a different piece.”
Guided practice — three facts
12 min- Students choose a topic and list five facts.
- They cross out any opinion, then pick the best three.
- They write the piece with the topic sentence first.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the informative writing page.
- The prompt and the checklist are on the sheet.
Close
2 min- Read one piece. The class counts the facts on their fingers.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Writes opinions dressed as facts — 'bats are the best animal'.
Why: It is stated flatly and sounds informational.
Fix: The disagreement test: could somebody argue with it? If yes, it is an opinion.
The topic sentence is a fact rather than a topic.
Why: The first fact is ready and gets written first.
Fix: Ask what the whole piece is about, and require that sentence to say it.
Three facts that are the same fact reworded.
Why: One fact is known well and it fills the space.
Fix: Read them back in a row. The repetition is obvious aloud in a way it is not on paper.
If they are not there yet
- Give the topic sentence and collect two facts.
- Provide a fact bank to choose from.
If they finish early
- Group the facts so related ones sit together.
- Add a fact that answers a question a reader would ask.
- Write a heading for the piece.
Exit ticket
Write a topic sentence and one fact about your topic.
What to look for: A topic sentence that names the topic rather than stating a fact. A fact in slot one means the whole-piece question needs asking first.
Printable practice for W.1.2
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Name a Topic, Give the FactsWrite on the lines. Use the checklist.
Questions about Writing Facts About a Topic
How long does the Writing Facts About a Topic lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Writing Facts About a Topic teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.2 — W.1.2, Writing for Grade 1: “Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.” In plain terms, write about a topic with some facts and an ending.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
A topic every student knows about, a fact-collecting list and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: writes opinions dressed as facts — 'bats are the best animal'; the topic sentence is a fact rather than a topic and three facts that are the same fact reworded. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Write a topic sentence and one fact about your topic.” A topic sentence that names the topic rather than stating a fact. A fact in slot one means the whole-piece question needs asking first. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Writing Facts About a Topic?
Yes — 1 printable W.1.2 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Writing Facts About a Topic free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to W.1.2 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.