Fiction
Definition of Genre
Mystery
Mysteries are often filled with suspense, but they are also
puzzling.
Adventure
Adventures are stories that are based on characters taking a risk.
Fantasy
Fantasies contain elements that are NOT realistic, such as talking
animals, magical powers, etc.
Science Fiction Science fiction includes futuristic technology; a blend of
scientific fact and fictional elements.
Animal Fiction Animal fiction is about an animal(s) that may be based entirely
on the author’s imagination.
Historical Fiction Fictional stories take place in a particular time period in the past.
Often the basic setting is real, but the characters are fictional.
Realistic Fiction Fictional stories that take place in modern time, right here and
now. The characters are involved in events that could really
happen.
Humorous
Funny stories that may be based entirely on the author’s
Fiction
imagination.
Fairy Tale/ Folk Folk tales are stories with no known creator. They were
Tale
originally passed down from one generation to another by word
of mouth. The authors of folk tales books are retelling these
stories.
Myth
Myths are stories that usually explain something about the world
and involve gods and other supernatural beings.
Fable
Fables are stories intended to teach a lesson in which animals
speak and act like human beings.
Project
In a pyramid poem, describe the mystery, the clues, and the
solution.
Create a crossword puzzle about this adventure.
List all the features of this story that made it a fantasy.
What was the science in this book that made it science
fiction? Write a paragraph.
Choose a way to you’d like to report on this book (poster,
poem, oral report, web, etc.).
Create six questions about this book (who, what, where,
when, why, and how) and answer them.
Sketch a scene from this book and write a caption for it.
Describe some funny scenes form this book.
What would be another good title for this tale? Explain why.
Who do you know who would like this myth? Write three
sentences explaining why that person would like this story.
What was the lesson you were supposed to learn from this
fable?
Nonfiction
History
A biography is the story of a real person’s life, written by another
person.
An autobiography is the story of a real person’s life, written by
that person.
Poetry is verse written to create a response of thought and feeling
from the reader. It often uses rhythm and rhyme to help convey
its meaning.
A true story based on actual past events or people.
Science
A true story based on actual scientific information.
Sports
A true story based on an actual sport or athlete.
Biography
Autobiography
Poetry
What is there about this person’s life that reminds you of
your life? Write about it.
Write a bio-poem about this person.
Report this book by writing a poem about it.
Thumbs up or thumbs down? Was it interesting? Give five
reasons.
What is the importance of this subject? Why did the author
write about it?
Find something interesting in this book that you’d like to
read aloud to the class. Practice.
Fiction
Mystery
Adventure
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Animal Fiction
Historical Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Humorous Fiction
Fairy Tale/ Folk Tale
Myth
Fable
Nonfiction
Biography
Autobiography
Poetry
History
Science
Sports
Book Title
Fiction
Mystery
Adventure
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Animal Fiction
Historical Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Humorous
Fiction
Fairy Tale/ Folk
Tale
Myth
Fable
4
25 points
Attempts pyramid poem; Describes the
mystery, the clues, and the solution
3
20 points
2
15 points
1
10 points
Does not attempt a pyramid poem;
Briefly describes at least one of the
following – mystery, clues, solution
Creates a crossword puzzle about
adventure; Puzzle does not include clues
or solution
Lists one feature of the story that made it
a fantasy
Writes one sentence about the science in
the story that made it science fiction
Describes at least four funny scenes
from the story
Attempts pyramid poem;
Describes at least two of the following –
mystery, clues, solution
Creates a crossword puzzle about
adventure; Puzzle includes clues or
solution
Lists a few features of the story that
made it a fantasy
Writes a couple of sentences about the
science in the story that made it science
fiction
Reports about two elements –
characters, plot, or setting – of the story
in any format
Creates four or five questions about the
story (who, what, where, when, why, and
how) and answers them
Sketches a scene from the story and
writes a caption for it but caption does
not explain scene
Describes at least three funny scenes
from the story
Describes at least two funny scenes from
the story
Does not create crossword puzzle or
creates a crossword puzzles not
pertaining to book
Lists no features of the story that made it
a fantasy but does write about the story
Writing does not explain the science in
the story that made it science fiction but
does describe the story
Does not report about characters, plot, or
setting of the story in any format but
does describe other parts of the story
Creates no questions about the story
(who, what, where, when, why, and
how) but does write about the story
Does not sketch a scene or write a
caption from the story but does write
about the story
Describes only one funny scene from the
story
Rewrites a title for the story and explains
why in a paragraph (4-5 sentences)
Rewrites a title for the story and explains
why in a couple of sentences
Rewrites a title for the story and explains
why in one sentence
Rewrites a title for the story but does not
explain why
Names a person who would like the
myth and writes at least three sentences
explaining why
Explains the lesson that was learned
from the fable in a paragraph (4-5
sentences)
Names a person who would like the
myth and writes at least two sentences
explaining why
Explains the lesson that was learned
from the fable in a couple of sentences
Names a person who would like the
myth and writes at least one sentence
explaining why
Explains the lesson that was learned
from the fable in one sentence
Names a person who would like the
myth but does not explain why
Writes at least a paragraph (4-5
sentences) explaining how the person’s
life reminds student of himself/ herself
Writes a bio-poem about the person
using 6 or more lines.
Writes a poem about the book using 10
or more lines.
Gives five reasons why book is rated
with a thumbs up or thumbs down
Explains the importance of subject and
explains why the author wrote about in a
paragraph (4-5 sentences)
Reads aloud a part of book to the class
and explains why they choose that part
Writes at least a couple of sentences
explaining how the person’s life reminds
student of himself/ herself
Writes a bio-poem about the person
using 5 lines.
Writes a poem about the book using 8
lines.
Gives at least four reasons why book is
rated with a thumbs up or thumbs down
Explains the importance of subject and
explains why the author wrote about in a
couple of sentences
Reads aloud a part of the book to the
class; Doesn’t explain why they choose
that part
Writes one sentence explaining how the
person’s life reminds student of himself/
herself
Writes a bio-poem about the person
using 4 lines.
Writes a poem about the book using 6
lines.
Gives at least three reasons why book is
rated with a thumbs up or thumbs down
Explains the importance of subject or
explains why the author wrote about in a
paragraph (4-5 sentences)
Does not read aloud part of the book to
the class – Tells the favorite part and
explains why they choose the part in
writing
Doe not explain how the person’s life
reminds student of himself/ herself but
does write about the person
Writes a bio-poem about the person
using 3 lines
Writes a poem about the book using 4
lines.
Gives at least two reasons why book is
rated with a thumbs up or thumbs down
Explains the importance of subject or
explains why the author wrote about in a
couple of sentences
Does not read aloud part of the book to
the class – Tells the favorite part in
writing; Doesn’t explain reasoning
Creates a crossword puzzle about
adventure; Puzzle includes clues and
solution
Lists all the features of the story that
made it a fantasy
Writes a paragraph (4-5 sentences) about
the science in the story that made it
science fiction
Reports about the characters, plot, and
setting of the story in any format
Creates six questions about the story
(who, what, where, when, why, and
how) and answers them
Sketches a scene from the story and
writes a caption for it
Reports about one element – characters,
plot, or setting – of the story in any
format
Creates three or less questions about the
story (who, what, where, when, why,
and how) and answers them
Sketches a scene from the story or writes
a caption
Does not describe the mystery, clues, or
solution but does write about the story
Does not explain the lesson that was
learned from the fable but does write
about the fable
Nonfiction
Biography
Autobiography
Poetry
History
Science
Sports