Nonfiction Text Structure

So, my class has been working on nonfiction text structure for the last 2 1/2 weeks.  I started my unit off by reviewing genres--nonfiction specifically, and nonfiction text features. I then talked about how author's also use different text structures when writing.  I introduced the following text structures, and we completed the anchor chart below:

We also discussed compare/contrast, but created a page just for that one....partly because I think that one is particularly important and requires slightly more discussion/practice, and partly because I ran out of room on the first chart. :)  I got this idea from  http://www.teachingwithamountainview.com/

After introducing all the different text structures, we then spent the next two weeks looking at each individual text structure and doing some practice with them.  Now, we're back to reviewing them altogether. I also bought some wonderful task cards from Teaching with a Mountain View--love her stuff!  We took one of the text cards, which has 3 different passages all on the same topic, and questions.  Together, we read each passage and determined which text structure was used, and gave evidence to support our choices.  Then, we answered the questions included.  See below. 

The following day, I let them get in groups to do the same thing.  Initially I made a list of the groups I was going to put them in, but then as we were getting ready to start, I decided to change things up!  I wanted them to be truly engaged and for this to be a meaningful activity.  I went over the different topics they were going to choose from, and then called them out one at a time to see who wanted to do what.  It worked out perfectly where they all ended up in groups of 2-3.  Here they are working away!

We worked for about 35 minutes today, and are hoping to finish up tomorrow! 

My Genre's Book

So, I was looking for a fun new way to teach literary genres with my kids.  This is a skill we work on through the year, but I wanted to take a week to just really look at the four main genre categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama.  I wanted to do more than just teach my kids about genres and show them different examples.  I wanted them to actually apply it and practice it. 

That's my example I made as an exemplar for my kids---->

Each of my kids made a "My Genre's Book."  We picked a theme (that week we did spiders since it was around Halloween) and wrote different stories, informational pieces, poems, etc. all about spiders for each of the genres.

To do this, I used 1 piece of construction paper and 2 pieces of white copy paper.  I just put the white paper in the middle, folded, and stapled.  We discussed a different genre each day and added a story to our book.  I think it helped make this somewhat abstract topic a little more concrete for them since it was more hands on.