Celebrate Nonfiction

Exploring the Joy of Nonfiction Reading and Writing

Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference Handout

Building Research Skills in K-3
Author-educator Melissa Stewart introduces scaffolded visual, information, and digital literacy activities to help K-3 students develop the observational, inquiry, and critical thinking skills required to evaluate print and digital resources for nonfiction reports. Supports Common Core RIT Standards 6 and 7 and Writing Standards 7 and 8.
 
Recommended Books

Encouraging Observation

Where’s Walrus? by Steve Savage

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krause Rosenthal

The Power of Pictures

Wave by Suzy Lee

Fossil by Bill Thomson

The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Peet


Great blog post with suggestions for wordless picture book read alouds:

http://www.threebooksanight.com/how-tos/read-a-wordless-book/

Words and Pictures that Work Together

Blackout by John Rocco

One Day, The End by Rebecca Kai Dotlich

Where in the Wild by David M. Schwartz

Pictures that Go Beyond the Words

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee

Redwoods by Jason Chin

 

Visual Teaching Strategies Method

I use images from picture books I’ve written (A Place for Turtles, Feathers: Not Just for Flying, When Rain Falls, Under the Snow), but you can use illustrations from any illustrated book, fiction or nonfiction.

Ask students:
–What do you think is happening in this picture?
–What do you see that makes you say that? 

After a class discussion, encourage students to think about how they might have drawn the art differently if they were the illustrator. If time permits, invite the children to draw their version of the art.

Extracting Content-Area Information

Sample Question: How do animals depend on the place where they live?

Book Pair: Just Ducks by Nicola Davies & Hip-pocket Papa by Sandra Markle

Sample Wonder Statement: I wonder how a rain forest is different from a desert.

Book Pair: The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry & Here Is a Southwestern Desert by Madeliene Dunphy

For more samples and book suggestions: Perfect Pairs: Using Fiction & Nonfiction Picture Books to Teach Life Science, K-2 by Melissa Stewart & Nancy Chesley

Books with Designs that Convey an Extra Layer of Information

Move! by Steve Jenkins

Mosquito Bite by Alexandra Siy

The Day-Glo Brothers by Chris Barton

How Design Affects Our Thoughts
Guide students in understanding the importance of designers in creating the visuals we see every day. How can our thoughts and feelings be manipulated with visuals, such as in advertisements and website homepages?

 

Tricks for Evaluating Websites
Point out the three letter domain names at the end of website addresses. Let them know that these three letters can tell them who created the site and what the creator’s main objective is for the site.

Encourage students to ask themselves, “What is the first thing my eye notices when I look at this website?” Help them understand that their answer to this question can help them assess the reliability of a website.

Recommended Blog Posts on this Topic
http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2016/02/behind-books-getting-ready-to-research.html

http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2016/02/behind-books-getting-ready-to-research_24.html

http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2016/03/behind-books-getting-ready-to-research.html

http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2016/03/behind-books-getting-ready-to-research_9.html

http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2016/03/behind-books-getting-ready-to-research_16.html

http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2016/03/behind-books-getting-ready-to-research-6.html
 

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