AC9EFLY03 • Foundation English

imaginative and informative texts

I can tell some differences between imaginative and informative texts.

Topic GuideClassroom ViewWorksheetPracticeTest
Key vocabulary
  • imaginative text — a created story, play or poem that can entertain
  • informative text — a text that gives facts or explains a real topic
  • character — a person, animal or being in a story
  • fact — information that can be checked
  • purpose — the main reason a text was made
Key concept

I can tell some differences between imaginative and informative texts.

Learning goal: I can tell some differences between imaginative and informative texts.

I am ready when I can

  • I can name the two text types.
  • I can find a character or event clue.
  • I can find a fact or explanation clue.
  • I can name the main purpose.
  • I can use more than a picture to justify the decision.
See it, then try it

See the skill in action

Worked-model method: check characters, events, facts and purpose.

1. The text begins, ‘A tiny dragon lost its striped sock and searched the moonlit garden.’2. A tiny dragon is a created character and losing the sock begins an event.3. The author’s main purpose is to tell an imagined story that readers can enjoy.

Model answer: This is an imaginative text because it uses a created character and event to tell a story.

Worked example: identify an informative text

Worked-model method: check characters, events, facts and purpose.

1. The text says, ‘Frogs begin life as eggs. Tadpoles hatch and grow legs as they change.’2. The sentences give facts and explain changes in a real animal’s life.3. The author’s main purpose is to inform the reader about frogs.

Model answer: This is an informative text because it gives facts and an explanation about a real topic.

See the skill in action

Worked-model method: check characters, events, facts and purpose.

1. The text begins, ‘A tiny dragon lost its striped sock and searched the moonlit garden.’2. A tiny dragon is a created character and losing the sock begins an event.3. The author’s main purpose is to tell an imagined story that readers can enjoy.

Model answer: This is an imaginative text because it uses a created character and event to tell a story.

Worked example: identify an informative text

Worked-model method: check characters, events, facts and purpose.

1. The text says, ‘Frogs begin life as eggs. Tadpoles hatch and grow legs as they change.’2. The sentences give facts and explain changes in a real animal’s life.3. The author’s main purpose is to inform the reader about frogs.

Model answer: This is an informative text because it gives facts and an explanation about a real topic.

Australian Curriculum elaborations

E1: Distinguish real information from imagined events

Texts can describe checkable real-world information or create imagined characters and events, and some stories mix realistic details with invention.

Think: Read a frog fact and a sentence about a talking frog king. Name what could be checked in the real world. Name the created event and classify each text with a reason.

Try: Which idea can be checked as real information, and which event has been imagined?

A strong answer: Listen to both frog extracts, sort the checkable fact from the imagined event, then state the clue that supports each decision.

Check: The learner identifies a checkable fact and an invented character or event, then links each to the appropriate text type.

If you are stuck: Use one Fact card and one Created event card, and let the learner place each sentence before explaining it.

E2: Select an information text for a task

An informative text can help complete a task by supplying relevant facts, labels, explanations or directions.

Think: Set the task: find what a tadpole eats. Compare a frog story with a labelled frog information page. Select the useful text and point to the fact, heading or label that will help.

Try: Which text will help with this task, and where would you look inside it?

A strong answer: Choose the text that can answer the tadpole question, point to its useful heading, label or fact and explain the choice.

Check: The learner selects a relevant informative text and names a feature or content clue that can answer the task question.

If you are stuck: Offer only two contrasting texts and place the task question beside them while the learner points to the likely source.

E3: Compare images by the job they do

Images in imaginative texts can develop characters, settings or events, while images in informative texts can show, label or explain real information.

Think: Show an illustrated frog adventure and a labelled frog-life-cycle diagram. Describe what each image adds to its text. Connect the image job to the text purpose.

Try: What does each frog image help the reader understand?

A strong answer: Compare the frog story picture with the life-cycle diagram, then explain how each image helps its text communicate.

Check: The learner explains that one image supports an imagined event while the other displays or labels factual information.

If you are stuck: Cover the surrounding words and use simple labels, Story event and Real information, before restoring the whole texts.

Common misconceptions
  • Every text with a picture is imaginative — Read the words and identify whether the picture supports a story event or real information.
  • An informative text cannot be enjoyable — Keep the decision on facts and purpose, because an informative text can still be interesting.
  • One real object makes a text informative — Check whether the whole text tells created events or mainly gives checkable information.
Explain and apply

Check real or imagined

Compare: A frog king invited the moon to tea. Frogs hatch from eggs. Which could be checked in real life?

Answer and teaching guidance

The egg sentence is informative because it can be checked. The frog king event is imaginative because it creates an unreal character and event.

Use more than one clue

Can a picture alone prove whether a whale page is a story or information text?

Answer and teaching guidance

Usually no. Ask for words, labels, facts, characters or author purpose as extra evidence before deciding.

Name the purpose

Which text is mainly made to entertain? Which is mainly made to inform?

Answer and teaching guidance

Imaginative texts often entertain through characters and events. Informative texts teach real-world facts, labels or explanations.

Make both versions

Write or say one created rain event and one checkable rain fact.

Answer and teaching guidance

This makes the difference concrete: a rain cloud singing is imaginative; rain filling a tank is an informative fact if it can be checked.

Try these
  1. Clue sort — Sort short text cards by the clues they contain: characters and events, or facts and explanations.
    Story clues • information clues • clues that both text types can use
  2. Purpose talk — Choose a purpose card and say a complete sentence, such as ‘The author made this text to entertain readers.’
    entertain • inform • explain
  3. Picture check — Compare a frog story picture and a labelled frog diagram, then explain why a picture alone does not decide the text type.
    Use words, layout and purpose together
Check your understanding

Quick checks

  • Which text is imaginative?
  • Which text is informative?
  • A book says, ‘Koalas sleep for many hours each day’ and has labelled photos. What kind of text is it most likely?
  • A story shows a fox wearing boots and speaking to a rabbit. What is a clue that it is imaginative?

Mastery evidence

  • Which text is imaginative?
  • Which text is informative?
  • A book says, ‘Koalas sleep for many hours each day’ and has labelled photos. What kind of text is it most likely?
  • A story shows a fox wearing boots and speaking to a rabbit. What is a clue that it is imaginative?
  • The learner identifies a checkable fact and an invented character or event, then links each to the appropriate text type.
  • The learner selects a relevant informative text and names a feature or content clue that can answer the task question.
  • The learner explains that one image supports an imagined event while the other displays or labels factual information.
Resources
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Recommended: Fiction v. Nonfiction | Reading Comprehension

Khan Academy Kids — Comparing an imagined story with a text that gives information.

As you watch: What clue helps you decide whether the text is imaginative or informative?

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Try it: With an adult, compare two books about the same animal: one story and one information book. Explain one difference.

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