Update June 24, 2024: My thinking about nonfiction classification has evolved since I wrote this post, but I’ve decided not to delete it because there’s value in looking back at my past ideas. For my current thinking, please see the book 5 Kinds of Nonfiction as well as information on my website.
Back
in December, I published this post with my view of the nonfiction
family tree, showing how it’s evolved and blossomed over the last couple of
decades.
in December, I published this post with my view of the nonfiction
family tree, showing how it’s evolved and blossomed over the last couple of
decades.
Because it received such an enthusiastic response, last week
I published a follow-up post with
sample book lists. It quickly became the second most popular post ever on this
blog. Wow!
I published a follow-up post with
sample book lists. It quickly became the second most popular post ever on this
blog. Wow!
Since this is clearly a high-interest topic, I’ve decided to
write two more posts, answering a Facebook query from school librarian Laurie Nawor: Could
I suggest a lesson for teaching students in grades 3-7 the five categories?
write two more posts, answering a Facebook query from school librarian Laurie Nawor: Could
I suggest a lesson for teaching students in grades 3-7 the five categories?
Yes!
Introducing
the 5 Kinds of Nonfiction Children’s Books
the 5 Kinds of Nonfiction Children’s Books
Organize
the class into small groups and invite each team to gather a range of books on
a single topic from the school library. After students have sorted the books
into at least three categories that make sense to them, compare the criteria
each group used.
the class into small groups and invite each team to gather a range of books on
a single topic from the school library. After students have sorted the books
into at least three categories that make sense to them, compare the criteria
each group used.
Next, introduce the five kinds
of nonfiction books. After sharing several books that fit each category,
read aloud sections of books that are about the same topic but represent
different book types. Here’s one possible text set:
of nonfiction books. After sharing several books that fit each category,
read aloud sections of books that are about the same topic but represent
different book types. Here’s one possible text set:
Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95 by
Phillip Hoose (narrative)
Feathers: Not Just for Flying by
Melissa Stewart (expository literature)
Melissa Stewart (expository literature)
Owls by Gail Gibbons (traditional)
Eyewitness Books: Bird by David Burnie
(browse-sable)
(browse-sable)
National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America by Jonathan
Alderfer (active)
Ask the students what they
notice about how each kind of book shares information with the reader? Can they
identify each author’s intent for writing his/her book? What are the
similarities and differences across categories?
Then, if time permits, invite students to dig deeper. Is the focus on each book narrow or broad? What kind of text features does each book include? How do they help the reader navigate the information? What kind of text structure, writing style, and craft moves does each author employ? Does the writing have a distinct voice? How do these text traits affect the way a reader experiences a book?
Alderfer (active)
Ask the students what they
notice about how each kind of book shares information with the reader? Can they
identify each author’s intent for writing his/her book? What are the
similarities and differences across categories?
Then, if time permits, invite students to dig deeper. Is the focus on each book narrow or broad? What kind of text features does each book include? How do they help the reader navigate the information? What kind of text structure, writing style, and craft moves does each author employ? Does the writing have a distinct voice? How do these text traits affect the way a reader experiences a book?
Finally, send the groups
back to the stacks to gather a selection of nonfiction books on a new topic. Invite
each team to sort the books into the five types—narrative, expository
literature, traditional, browse-able, and active. Did they find examples of all
five kinds of books? If not, can they explain why?
back to the stacks to gather a selection of nonfiction books on a new topic. Invite
each team to sort the books into the five types—narrative, expository
literature, traditional, browse-able, and active. Did they find examples of all
five kinds of books? If not, can they explain why?
Next week, I’ll share a lesson that reinforces what students learned during this activity.
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Topics
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One Response
A great selection! I love Moonbird (and Feaathers!!) And as a bird nerd, there are a whole host of others I could recommend 🙂