Lesson Plan
Fiction vs. Nonfiction
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.
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Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to identify and contrast works of fiction and works of nonfiction.
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,