Celebrate Nonfiction

Exploring the Joy of Nonfiction Reading and Writing

Nonfiction Smackdown!

A few weeks ago I attended a fantastic EdCamp at Dedham
Middle School in Dedham, MA. The event was organized by the MA School Library
Association’s Professional
Learning Committee, chaired by the uber-talented Laura D’Elia.

It was a great day of learning
and sharing. One of my favorite ideas of the day was the Nonfiction Smackdown!, brainchild
of teacher-librarian Judi Paradis who works at Plympton School in Waltham, MA. Don’t
you just love that name?

Here’s how it works. Students in
grades 3-5 read two nonfiction books on the same topic. Then they evaluate and
compare the two titles, recording their thinking on a worksheet like this one:

When students are done, they can
share their responses with classmates. Or the worksheets can be posted, so that
other students can use the information to help them make book choices.

The fun activity gets kids
reading and thinking and sharing. It’s great!

Note: You can find a more printable version of the Nonfiction
Smackdown! worksheet on my pinterest Reading Nonfiction Board: https://www.pinterest.com/mstewartscience/

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