Reading Genres

Summary There are a few learning targets for this lesson. Students will be able to identify different reading genres by definition, and will be able to classify books under their genres. Students will be able to identify the parts of stories and the dramatic structure of plot points in reading and writing.

Time Frame 2 class periods of 60 minutes each

Group Size Small Groups

Life Skills Thinking & Reasoning, Communication

Materials Teachers will need a Kidspiration web with the definitions of different genres (realistic fiction, etc). The web should also include definitions of stages of dramatic structure (rising action, etc), as well as the composition of stories (plot, characters, etc). Teachers will also need access to either a classroom library or school library of books from various genres. In addition, students should have access to computers to use Kidspiration to create their own webs and to get onto Scholastic.com. Teachers will need a Dr. Seuss book, or other picture book, to read aloud and have students identify the dramatic structure.

Background for Teachers Teachers should understand the difference between genres of books, as well as the parts of dramatic structure and be able to identify those. Teachers should be familiar with Scholastic.com so they can help students use it, and also Kidspiration for the same purpose.

Intended Learning Outcomes Students will be able to identify different reading genres by definition, and will be able to classify books under their genres. Students will be able to identify the parts of stories and the dramatic structure of plot points in reading and writing.

Instructional Procedures Day One: -Introduce reading genres by presenting students with the Kidspiration word web. Go through all the genres, explaining the characteristics of each. Ask students to identify one book they think fits into each category. Call on two or three students for each genre, making sure not to pick the same student twice. Students can either copy down the web onto paper, or they can be given a copy of the teacher's. -Students should break up into groups of 3 or 4 (depending on the size of class) and each group will be assigned a genre. They will go over to the classroom library, log on to Scholastic.com or both and identify 10 books that fit into their genre. -After students identify the books in their genre, they will preview the books and create their own web on Kidspiration including the definition of their genre and the characteristics that make it up. They will also include the titles of the books they found. -Each group will make a presentation of their web and each group member will talk about one of the books they found and previewed. After all of the groups have presented, each student will get a copy of all of the webs the students created on Kidspiration. Day Two: -Read a Dr. Seuss book aloud to the class, asking students to listen carefully. Bring up Kidspiration web again, this time to talk about dramatic structure and elements of stories. First, talk about elements of stories and how each story has to have those things. When you get to plot, explain that stories are like bell curves, they go up and down with the plot. Explain the different parts of dramatic structure. -Read same Dr. Seuss book to students, asking them to listen for elements of the story and the dramatic structure. -After the story is over, ask them to identify story elements and structure on a worksheet, then they can share with a partner, then with the class. (Think-Pair-Share).

Assessment Plan I will give students a list of books from the classroom library, and they will be asked to identify what genre the books are in by previewing them. They will be books different from the ones the students already identified. Then, they will be read another story and will be given a sheet on which to identify elements of the story and the dramatic structure. They will do all of this individually, as opposed to the classroom activities which were in groups and pairs.

Authors Andrea Nelson