Read examples of nonfiction with your students. Select examples of nonfiction text from your student's literature books or pick pieces that are easy enough for them to tackle from magazines and newspapers. Specifically seek works that are on topics that will interest them to increase their desire to explore these written works.
Discuss and practice the list text structure. Explain to students that in a list text structure, the author simply lists facts about an object. Practice this type of writing by engaging students in the composition of a list structured piece about their favorite holiday. Remind students that in this piece they should not explore the events that take place on this holiday in order, but instead simply list elements of this holiday. For example, a student writing about Christmas could discuss presents, then Santa Claus, then the Christmas tree.
Practice composing a nonfiction text with a sequence structure. Tell students that in a sequence structure, the elements are organized chronologically in the order in which they occurred. Give students a chance to practice this type of writing by asking them to write about their day in school, organizing the elements in their composition in the order in which they occurred throughout the day. Task students with taking these pieces home and reading them to their parents. Ask each parent to sign the composition after her child has read it to her.
Complete a compare-and-contrast structured text. Gather several types of individually wrapped candy. Ask each student to select two. Use these tasty treats as inspiration for a compare-contrast essay. Ask students to compare these two candy types in writing, composing several paragraphs, each on a different feature of the candy. For example, they could write one paragraph on the color, another on the flavor and a third on the decorations on the wrappers.
Compose a cause-and-effect text. Mix history in with your practice of cause-and-effect writing by asking students to write cause-and-effect essays on historical events. Assign students an event you have studied in class, such as the pilgrims' decision to come to America. Instruct students to write one paragraph that explains the cause, and a second explains the effect of that cause. Place these essays on display on a bulletin board about the topic featured.
Allow students to select one of the featured structures and compose a longer piece following the rules of that structure. Assign a topic for this major composition or allow students to select their own topics of interest.
Showcase student work. Display the students' final writings at a parents' night or create a class magazine featuring the writings, allowing parents to see what their children created and giving students the chance to take pride in their pieces of writing.