Yesterday we began our third unit of informational text in reading. When I introduced the unit, I was pleasantly surprised to hear far less groans and even a few cheers. I believe I have experienced a shift in student interest this year. In the past, most of the students have preferred fiction to nonfiction, but today it seemed different. It seems like our third round is going to be the charm!
To kick off this unit, we reviewed the different subgenres of nonfiction, including biography, autobiography, reference, and literary nonfiction. As a class, we reviewed the characteristics of each subgenre, discussing the similarities and differences between them. The target for the day’s lesson was to be able to look at a text and not only determine its subgenre, but to offer evidence as to why.
To organize this activity, the students used the structure Showdown. It required all students to participate and identify the genre before sharing their answer with their teammates. The captain was required to check all answers and make sure that all teammates agreed. Additionally, they were prepared to explain why their teammates determined the subgenre that they did. Once the teams agreed and understood why, they recorded their answers onto a chart. Different texts rotated around to each group. Overall, the students had great success with this activity.
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