Co Teaching Mini Lesson LAI474/574
Megan Blackmer and Andrew Johnston
Subject Area: Library/ELA
Grade Level: Elementary grades 2-4
Class Description: General Education ELA and Library Media Specialist
Classroom Arrangement: Small Group
Students with Disabilities:
Accommodations for students with disabilities:
Student 1: General Reading Disability Read passages out loud from handout worksheet
Student 2: Hearing impairment Visual instructions, reading, color-coding, socialization with group/partner activity,
assistive technology will be available or teacher aide.
Purpose (Goals): Students will understand the different types of genres of literature.
Objective(s): Students will be able to differentiate between fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and
biography.
Content Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are
used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
AASL (Library): 1.1.6 - Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format
(e.g., textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inference and
gather meaning.
Essential Questions: What are characteristics of fiction? What are characteristics non-fiction?
What are characteristics of biography? What are characteristics of poetry?
Key Vocabulary: Fiction, Non-fiction, biography, poetry, poems, people, places, facts, imaginary,
verse, story, prose, stanza
Materials: Graphic Organizers, Glue Sticks, Poster board, Elmo/Overhead projector, Color
Response Cards, Envelopes, Cut-out of descriptions.
Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set:
Ask students what they know about the different genres. Have the students describe
characteristics of each genre and teachers will write them on overhead, posterboards or
computer.
Body/Instructional Activity/Main Lesson:
Students will receive a color-coded graphic organizer with each of the 4 genres labeled.
Students will also receive an envelope with short descriptions of each genre and 4 colorresponse cards. Students will follow along as teachers read instructions. Teachers will begin the
activity by modeling two of the blurbs before students complete the activity in groups. Teachers
will check to make sure all students have required materials and understand the activity.
Students will then place the cutout in the appropriate category on worksheet with glue sticks.
Teachers will be available for additional support, assistance and questions.
Closure/Assessment:
To conclude the activity, students will use the color coded response cards to demonstrate their
knowledge of genres. Based on the work students completed in the graphic organizer, the
teachers will implement immediate feedback from students with the color-coded response
cards.
Each genre has a specific color represented on the worksheet and corresponds to the colored
response cards (Fiction is Red, Non-Fiction is Blue, Biography is Green, and Poetry is Yellow)
Teachers read a specific description and students will hold up the appropriate response card.
Teachers can record student responses in order to assess learning.
Modifications:
Lesson plan can be used for individual students, pairs, and small groups.
Blurbs can be changed for different subjects or grades.
Co-Teaching Strategies:
Parallel for the pre-assessment activity.
Team Teaching will be implemented in our lesson as we (teachers) rotate amongst the groups
and reinforce students’ progress, answer questions, and provide assistance.
Genre Blurbs - Worksheet Group Activity Instructions:
1. Students will receive a graphic organizer, an envelope with 8 different descriptions of genres,
glue sticks, and 4 colored-response cards.
2. Teachers will read two of the descriptions aloud to the group.
3. Students will read the remaining descriptions and glue to the appropriate genre section.
4. When completed, students will hold red response card indicating activity is finished.
Closing/Assessment Activity:
Now, that you have completed the activity we will go over it as a class.
Teachers will read off each genre description and ask the student to respond with the
appropriate colored response card.
Each color corresponds with the 4 different genres.
Fiction is Red
Non-fiction is Blue
Biography is Green
Poetry is Yellow
Fiction
They came down from the sky with
a stream of light coming from their
flying saucer. The aliens were green
with blue stripes and spoke with
“beeps” and “boops”. Sam and Harry
were afraid they were going to be eaten
alive, so they hid in the bushes while
the creatures slid on the ground like slugs.
The vampires and werewolves fought
over territory for centuries. Tonight, would be
the deciding battle as the young girl watched in terror.
Biography
I grew up in a small town where I lived
my whole life. I have two older brothers
and two loving parents. I lived in the same
house and went to the same school for
twelve years.
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States.
He was president during the Civil War and gave a famous speech.
He married Mary Todd and wore large top hats.
Non-Fiction
The bald eagle is a bird of prey. It has a wingspan of 5 to 7 feet.
The bird also builds large nests and is the symbol of the United States.
Ice Hockey is the national sport of Canada. It is played on an ice rink.
There are 5 players and 1 goalie. Players wear protective pads and helmets.
Poetry
Hear him tumble, grumble, rumble…
Bash, crash, blunder – old grouch thunder!
Always in a mood to fight –
morning, afternoon, or night.
Lightning quickly answers back
with a zig-zag flashing crack!
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind