Lesson: Fiction vs. Nonfiction Fact Finders (3 Lessons)
Grade: Kindergarten
Overview: This lesson is designed to review the differences between fiction and
nonfiction books and emphasize how nonfiction books are used to find facts.
Essential Questions:
What is fiction?
What is nonfiction?
GPS Standards
ELAKR1 The student demonstrates knowledge of concepts of print.
ELAKR6 The student gains meaning from orally presented text. The student
a. Listens to and reads a variety of literary (e.g., short stories, poems) and
informational texts and materials to gain knowledge and for pleasure.
b. Makes predictions from pictures and titles.
ELAKLSV1 The student uses oral and visual skills to communicate. The
student
a. Listens and speaks appropriately with peers and adults.
b. Follows two-part oral directions.
Objectives:
--Students will learn to distinguish fiction from nonfiction.
--Students will learn to represent text in graphic organizers.
--Students will compare and contrast information.
--Students will develop an understanding of how to acquire information from
nonfiction books.
--Students will review basic parts of a book:
----Title/Author/Illustrator/Front Cover/Spine/Title Page
--Students will hone their listening skills during storytime.
Introduction:
--Meet students at the door and welcome them back to the media center.
--Have students sit in the storytime corner. Review how you expect them to keep
“All 5 Things Together” during storytime.
Lesson/Storytime #1
--Show students the list of questions on the easel and ask students how we could
find answers to these questions. Call on a few students to answer, expand as needed
to emphasize that books are a great place to find answers.
--Explain that today we are going to use books to gather information we need to
answer the questions. We need to know which kind of books to use.
--Show the two books and explain that one is fiction and the other is nonfiction.
--Hold up the 1st Essential Question--What is fiction? Read it out loud and then
have the class read it with you. Call on a few students to share their thoughts.
When they are done sharing, sing the “fiction song.” (Tune—1 Little, 2 Little, 3
Little Indians: Fiction is a made up story, Fiction is a made up story, Fiction is a
made up…from the author’s mind.)
--Show students the example of a Fiction Book—The First Day of Winter”
Demonstrate to students how to look at the book and determine it is Fiction.
--Hold up the 2nd Essential Question--What is nonfiction? Read it out loud and
then have the class read it with you. Call on a few students to share their thoughts.
When they are done sharing, sing the “nonfiction song.” (Tune-For He’s a Jolly Good
fellow Nonfiction gives us facts, nonfiction gives us facts, nonfiction gives us
facts…on people, places and things.).
--Show students the example of a Non Fiction Book—“Winter”
Demonstrate to students how to look at the book and determine it is NF.
--Give students the fiction/nonfiction signs.
--Explain that we are going to play a game to determine which book is fiction and
which is nonfiction. They will hold the sign to show.
--Hold up books one at a time and ask students to hold up the correct sign—fiction
or nonfiction. (Books are paired—do them in order.) Explain as needed and ask
students after each pairing which one would give facts (example—monkeys vs.
Curious George)
Wrap Up
--Review Essential Questions
--Give students a preview of next visits in which they will be fact finders.
--Dismiss students to get shelf markers and browse for books.
Lesson/Storytime #2
--Welcome students back and remind them that last time we talked about fiction
and nonfiction books. Review Essential Questions and songs for both fiction and
nonfiction.
--Hold up “The First Day of Winter.”
Review Title/Author/Illustrator/Front Cover/Spine/Title Page
--Review the questions on the easel and tell students to “lock them in their brains.”
When they hear an answer to a question, they can touch their nose.
--After reading the book, see how many questions the students can answer on the
note organizer. Point out that the fiction book did not provide much information.
Tell the students that next time, they will read the nonfiction.
Wrap Up
--Review both Essential Questions.
--Dismiss students to get shelf markers and browse for books.
Lesson/Storytime #3
--Welcome students back and remind them that last time we talked about fiction
and nonfiction books. Review Essential Questions and songs for both fiction and
nonfiction.
--Tell the students that we are going to read the nonfiction book today to see if it
gives us answers to any of the questions.
--Hold up “Winter”
Review Title/Author/Illustrator/Front Cover/Spine/Title Page
--Review the questions on the easel and tell students to “lock them in their brains.”
When they hear an answer to a question, they can touch their nose.
--After reading the nonfiction book, have students answer as many questions as
possible. Point out to students that they were able to answer all of the questions.
Discussion:
--Compare the charts.
--Call on students to point out the differences and talk about the columns of
information. Ask them which book we can trust to be true? Which will answer our
questions?
Wrap Up
--Review both Essential Questions.
--Dismiss students to get shelf markers and browse for books.
Materials:
Essential Questions
“The First Day of Winter”
“Winter”
Selection of Fiction/Nonfiction Books
Post-It Easel with “Questions” and Graphic Organizer