Celebrate Nonfiction

Exploring the Joy of Nonfiction Reading and Writing

Getting to “I GET IT!”: Scaffolding in Nonfiction, Part 2

Here’s a continuation of yesterday’s post by editor Alyssa Mito Pusey about scaffolding—a nonfiction craft move that doesn’t get as much attention as it should. Once again, thank you, Alyssa.

SCAFFOLDING TACTIC 3

MIND THE GAP: Build a
progression of ideas

As
a writer, your job is to get kids from Point A to Point B—from their prior knowledge
to that big new idea. I find it helps to start by thinking about Point B. Try
summing up the concept in a single phrase. Then identify the information the
reader needs to understand the concept—and make sure all the building blocks
are there in your writing. One easy way to test this is to read the text
sentence by sentence, preferably aloud. Does each sentence connect to the one
before? Can you easily follow the progression of ideas? Are there any gaps?

In Super
Gear, Jennifer Swanson tackles the science of nanotechnology. On page 7,
she deftly employs scaffolding to explain why nanomaterials have a large
surface area.

—First, she clearly defines the term surface area, in case it’s new to her
readers.  

—Next, she uses an everyday example (a potato
being cut into french fries) to shows how surface area increases as the potato
is cut into smaller and smaller pieces.

—She then forges a connection between this
example and nanoparticles, which are like billions and billions of ultra-small potato
pieces.

—Finally, she describes how these billions of
pieces give the nanomaterial a much greater surface area than that of a regular
substance.

Jennifer’s precisely worded steps are like
building blocks, which are placed one atop the other to gradually build a
reader’s understanding of the concept.

 

TACTIC 4

SHED LIGHT: Make
illuminating comparisons

We
all know the illuminating power of a good comparison. It can cause a light bulb
to go off for the reader. (There’s a tried and true metaphor right there.) But
not all comparisons are equally effective. It’s easy for a simile or metaphor to
be so tried and true (like the light bulb) that it’s boring. An analogy can be belabored—so
elaborate that it’s difficult to follow. Mixed metaphors can be confusing.

One
master of comparisons is Melissa Stewart. In Feathers: Not Just for Flying, she starts with simple similes:
“Feathers can warm like a blanket . . . or cushion like a pillow.” Shen then
expands to unexpected comparisons, likening feathers to umbrellas and
sunscreen, backhoes and forklifts. Each comparison is clear in both text and
art; the reader instantly makes the connection. The simile leads the reader to
a concrete understanding of the concept, triggering an “Aha!” moment. Best of
all, the comparisons surprise and delight—individually and collectively. Who
knew that feathers served so many different purposes?

Scaffolding
like this can help kids develop a deep understanding of a complex concept. And
if you can help convey just one big, important idea, then you’ve given your
readers a gift for life.

Remember yesterday’s post, when my son asked me about the Big Bang? After briefly panicking, I recalled a beautifully
scaffolded picture book I once edited, took a deep breath, and dove in. “Well,
thirteen billion years ago . . .”

Alyssa Mito Pusey is a senior editor at
Charlesbridge, specializing in nonfiction for children.
 

Credits: Super Gear: Left image copyright © by Deep OV/Shutterstock.com; right
image copyright © by Binh Thanh Bui/Shutterstock.com; Feathers:
Text copyright © 2014 by Melissa Stewart; illustrations copyright © 2014 by
Sarah S. Brannen

3 Responses

top 25 nonfiction blog award
Return to Blog Archive

Most Popular Posts

Topics
top 25 nonfiction blog award
Return to Blog Archive

Most Popular Posts

Topics

© 2001–[current-year] Melissa Stewart. All rights reserved. All materials on this site may be copied for classroom or library use but may not be reprinted or resold for commercial purposes. This website is COPPA compliant. If you are a child under age 13 and wish to contact Melissa Stewart, please use the email address of a teacher, librarian, or parent with that adult’s permission. Webhost Privacy Policy.