Kids will love learning some fun facts about elephants while developing their reading comprehension skills. Using T-charts and Venn diagrams, they'll analyze stories and explore different characteristics of fiction and nonfiction.
Students will be able to identify and contrast works of fiction and works of nonfiction.
The adjustment to the whole group lesson is a modification to differentiate for children who are English learners.
EL adjustments
Introduction
(15 minutes)
Begin the lesson by asking the class about their knowledge of fiction, or stories about imaginary events.
Using the T-chart, have students help you list the characteristics of fiction. Write correct responses under the "Fiction" heading on the T-chart. Make sure to include the following: imaginary settings, "impossible" characters (like talking animals), and unrealistic actions.
Ask students about their knowledge of nonfiction, or stories about real events.
Under the "Nonfiction" heading on the T-chart, work with students to list characteristics specific to nonfiction. Make sure to include the following: dates, characters that exist in real life, and realistic actions.
Explain that this lesson will involve using authors' writing habits to determine how fiction and nonfiction can be compared and contrasted.
Beginning
Provide a phrase bank for students to sort into the "Fiction and Nonfiction" T-chart.
Intermediate
Define "compare," "contrast," "fiction," "nonfiction," and "author's writing habits" in student-friendly terms, or in their home language, if applicable,