Writing to Teach Somebody
A 35-minute Kindergarten lesson on writing to inform — naming a topic and supplying facts that belong to it.
Writing to Teach Somebody is a free 35-minute Kindergarten English lesson plan for Common Core standard W.K.2 — draw and write to teach someone about a thing you know. 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:
- Kindergarten
- Length:
- 35 minutes
- Standard:
- W.K.2
Kindergarten · Writing
W.K.2
Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
Objective
Students will be able to name a topic and write two true facts about it.
Students are successful when they can
- Names the topic in the first sentence.
- Gives two facts that are true.
- Keeps to the topic named.
What you need
- The 'what we learned' chart from the information reading lessons
- A drawing-and-writing frame
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — teach me one thing
5 min- Ask each child to tell their partner one true thing they know about anything.
- Take four. For each, ask what the topic was.
Teach — topic first, then facts
11 min- Write your own in front of them: 'Bees. Bees have six legs. Bees make honey.'
- Point out that the topic is the first word and the facts all belong to it.
- Now add a sentence that does not belong — 'I have a cat' — and cross it out, saying why.
- Draw the picture and label one part of it.
- Point out that the drawing has a job here: it shows the fact.
“Every sentence has to be about the thing you named. If it is not, it goes.”
Guided practice — say the topic, say two facts
9 min- Pairs choose a topic from the class chart and say two facts aloud.
- The listener's job is to say 'that is not about your topic' if it is not.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the informative frame.
- Scribe where needed. Check the facts are true before praising the sentence.
Close
2 min- One child reads theirs. The class says what the topic was.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Drifts off the topic after the first sentence.
Why: One fact reminds them of something else, and the association is stronger than the topic.
Fix: Have them say the topic aloud again before each new sentence. Saying it is what holds it.
Writes an opinion rather than a fact — 'bees are the best'.
Why: The opinion lesson came first and the shape is still to hand.
Fix: Ask 'could somebody disagree with that?' A fact cannot be disagreed with; an opinion can.
Writes a fact that is not true.
Why: It sounds like the other facts and nobody has checked.
Fix: Check every fact against the chart or the book. An information text that is wrong has failed at the only thing it was for.
If they are not there yet
- Give the topic and ask only for the facts.
- Let them copy one fact from the class chart and add one of their own.
If they finish early
- Add a definition: 'A hive is where bees live.'
- Write three facts and put them in a sensible order.
- Add a closing sentence.
Exit ticket
What is your topic? Give me two facts about it.
What to look for: Two true facts that both belong to the named topic. An opinion among them means the 'could somebody disagree' test needs another airing.
Printable practice for W.K.2
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Teach Someone a FactDraw in the space, then write on the lines.
Questions about Writing to Teach Somebody
How long does the Writing to Teach Somebody lesson take?
35 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 11 min, guided practice 9 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 to Teach Somebody teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.2 — W.K.2, Writing for Kindergarten: “Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.” In plain terms, draw and write to teach someone about a thing you know.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
The 'what we learned' chart from the information reading lessons, a drawing-and-writing frame 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: drifts off the topic after the first sentence; writes an opinion rather than a fact — 'bees are the best' and writes a fact that is not true. 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: “What is your topic? Give me two facts about it.” Two true facts that both belong to the named topic. An opinion among them means the 'could somebody disagree' test needs another airing. 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 to Teach Somebody?
Yes — 1 printable W.K.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 to Teach Somebody 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.K.2 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.