After reading several examples of how a published author incorporates facts in fiction writing, students research a topic of their choice and write fictional diary entries that incorporate factual information.
Blurring Genre: Exploring Fiction and Nonfiction with Diary of a Worm
Grades
|
Family Memoir: Getting Acquainted With Generations Before Us
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Creating a memoir of an older family member allows students both to learn more about their own backgrounds and to learn the power of storytellers.
Grades
|
The Feature StoryFifteen Minutes (and 500 Words) of Fame!
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students learn how to differentiate between a news story and a feature story by writing a profile of a classmate.
Grades
|
Exploring Audience and Purpose with a Single Issue
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students explore the concepts of audience and purpose by focusing on an issue that divided Americans in 1925, the debate of evolution versus creationism raised by the Scopes Monkey Trial.
Grades
|
Campaigning for Fair Use: Public Service Announcements on Copyright Awareness
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Students explore a range of resources on fair use and copyright then design their own audio public service announcements (PSAs), to be broadcast over the school's public address system.
Grades
|
Finding the Science Behind Science Fiction through Paired Readings
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students read science fiction texts and then use nonfiction texts to extrapolate the scientific principles presented as they discuss the "what ifs" within the context of scientific principles.
Grades
|
Digging Up Details on Worms: Using the Language of Science in an Inquiry Study
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
This lesson, in which students research worms in order to create a classroom habitat, incorporates reading and writing across content areas as well as math and science activities.
Grades
|
Using Student-Centered Comprehension Strategies with Elie Wiesel's Night
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Working in small groups, students read and discuss Elie Wiesel's memoir Night and then take turns assuming the "teacher" role, as the class works with four different comprehension strategies.
Grades
|
So What Do You Think? Writing a Review
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Writing a review of an author's work challenges students to develop their critical thinking skills. It provides an opportunity for students to speak their mindsand to enjoy being heard.
Grades
|
Literature as a Jumping Off Point for Nonfiction Inquiry
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Students use text sets to research a topic inspired by a fiction book they have read. A text set is a collection of multiple text genres with a single focus.
Grades
|
Our Community: Creating ABC Books as Assessment
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students create alphabet books, which are used as an integrated assessment with science, health, social studies, and any other content area. This lesson plans looks at the theme of community.
Grades
|
Question and Answer Books--From Genre Study to Report Writing
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Unit
After exploring several question and answer books on a variety of topics, students research a topic and create their own class question and answer book.
Grades
|
Paying Attention to Technology: Reviewing a Technology
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students read and analyze technology reviews to establish the characteristics of the genre. They then compose their own reviews on a technology of their choice.
Grades
|
Argument, Persuasion, or Propaganda? Analyzing World War II Posters
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students analyze World War II posters, as a group and then independently, to explore how argument, persuasion and propaganda differ.
Grades
|
Bridging Literature and Mathematics by Visualizing Mathematical Concepts
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
During interactive read-aloud sessions, students identify how an author conveys mathematical information about animals' sizes and abilities. They then conduct research projects focusing on the same mathematical concepts.
Grades
|
Exploring Sets through Math-Related Book Pairs
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
After reading two math-related books, students investigate their home and school environments to find examples of objects that come in sets and then create their own books on sets.
Grades
|
Using Snowflake Bentley as a Framing Text for Multigenre Writing
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Using Snowflake Bentley as a model, students create a working definition of multigenre text and then use that definition to create their own multigenre piece about winter or another theme.
Grades
|
A Genre Study of Letters With The Jolly Postman
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students read The Jolly Postman, in which a postman delivers letters to storybook characters. They explore different types of mail and categorize letters from the book and their own mail.
Grades
|
Imagine That! Playing with Genre through Newspapers and Short Stories
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students identify genre characteristics for short stories and newspaper articles then practice both genres by turning a short story into a news article and an article into a short story.
Grades
|
Animal Study: From Fiction to Facts
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students listen to fiction and nonfiction read-alouds and explore selected Websites to identify factual information about animals. This lesson focuses on ants, but can be adapted to any animal.