Introducing Non-Fiction Unit PlanOverviewGiving students the opportunity to use information presented in different types of material (mainly nonfiction), students will prepare to use the texts that every reader encounters daily. These include newspapers, magazines, maps, recipes, manuals, and magazines.

Grade2nd through 3rd

Objectives Students will be able to get an introduction to nonfiction texts and identify

what they already know. Students will be able to prepare to read a nonfiction article by building

background knowledge and learning key vocabulary terms. Students will be able to learn text features associated with the various types

of nonfiction available. Students will be able to check their comprehension skills and apply what

they have learned in their own writing.

Lesson Plans What’s Special About Nonfiction? (Page 2) Prepare to Read Nonfiction (Page 3) Teach Text Features and Read Nonfiction (Page 4) Teach Text Structure for Nonfiction (Page 5) Check Comprehension and Apply Writing (Page 6)

Handouts KWL Chart (Page 7) Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever fall? (Available at:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/will-leaning-tower-of-pisa-fall.htm)

Five Text Structures (Page 8) Pre-reading Organizer (page 9)

How does nonfiction text look different from fiction?Chapter titles, headers, different fonts and sizes, bold words signify something important.

How are graphic aids used?Maps, charts, diagrams, photos, captions or labels

How is the vocabulary different?Unfamiliar words, harder to pronounce

What do we know about nonfiction?Useful information that we should remember and understand

What’s Special About Nonfiction?

OverviewThis lesson will provide students with a strong foundation for reading, writing, and using nonfiction.

Objective Students will be able to understand the difference between fiction and

nonfiction. Students will be able to understand the importance of nonfiction and how it

affects their daily lives. Students will be able to identify the basic characteristics of nonfiction

materials.

Materials Social studies or science textbook Example of fiction Samples of nonfiction literature

Lesson1. Discuss what nonfiction is

a. Point out examples that are all around them (books, menus, maps, and magazines)

b. Define nonfiction. “Nonfiction gives us information. It explains, informs or persuades us.”

2. Discuss the following with studentsa.

3. Reassure students that they unusual features should not discourage them. Explain how these characteristics are clues that will help them understand what they are reading.

4. Have students share experiences they have had with nonfictiona. What books about real people, places, and events have you read?b. Do you enjoy reading these types of books? Why or why not?c. What websites do you visit?

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Prepare to Read Nonfiction

OverviewThis lesson will provide students with a strong foundation for reading, writing, and using nonfiction.

Objectives Students will be able to understand and use a KWL chart while reading

nonfiction. Students will be able to become familiar with unfamiliar words. Students will be able to share what they already know about the topic of

nonfiction.

Materials Chart paper KWL chart (see page 7) Markers Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever fall? Or other Nonfiction article

Lesson1. Tell students that they will be reading about the Leaning Tower of Pisa.2. Hand out the KWL chart3. Ask students to tell you what they already know about the Leaning Tower.

Ask questions to help guide the discussion. Where is it? Why is it famous?a. Have students write this information down under the “K” column on

their chart. “K is for Know”4. Go over vocabulary words that students might need help identifying

a. Write each word on chart paper and have the students think about whether or not they know what these words mean.

b. Pronounce the words, define them, and give an example of each.

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Teach Text Features and Read Nonfiction

OverviewThis lesson will provide students with a strong foundation for reading, writing and using nonfiction.

Objectives Students will be able to learn the tools of reading nonfiction (text features) Students will be able to use think-aloud strategies to prepare to read the

section. Students will be able to identify graphic aids and understand their

importance.

Materials Pre-reading Organizer copies Sample book with fiction stories (optional) Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever fall? copies

Lesson1. Hand out both Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever fall? and the Pre-reading

Organizer2. Guide students through the read-about; have them look for anything that

draws their attention.3. Go over the photographs, diagrams and charts. Discuss the importance of

these in nonfiction literature. Graphic aids will help diverse learners.4. Model think-aloud strategies for pre-reading by asking questions and making

observations.5. Have students use the Pre-reading Organizer to make predictions about the

reading. Discuss these predictions and how they were made.6. Have students read Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever fall? quietly to

themselves. a. Remind them to pay close attention to the text features.

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Teach Text Structure for Nonfiction

OverviewThis lesson plan will provide students with a strong foundation for reading, writing, and using nonfiction.

Objectives Students will be able to gain an awareness and general understanding of

what test structures are. Students will be able to learn what clues they can use to identify the text

structure in a piece of writing.

Materials Five Text Structures (Page 8) Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever fall? copies

Lesson1. Use the Five Text structures chart to explain what text structures are and

what clues students can use to identify them2. Help students understand the importance of understanding text structure by

explaining that a reader who is aware of patterns that they are reading, can anticipate the kind of information that will be presented.

3. Have students read Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever fall?4. Ask students to identify what type of text structure this selection is (problem

and solution). Ask them, “How does the reader know?” “What headings offered clues?”

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Check Comprehension and Apply Writing

OverviewThis lesson will provide students with a strong foundation for reading, writing, and using nonfiction.

Objectives Students will be able to check their comprehension skills Students will be able to apply what they have learned to their own writing

Materials Writing tools

Lesson1. Wrap up the lesson by using a discussion and/ or a visual chart

a. Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa so famous?b. What was the problem with the tower?c. How did the engineers solve the problem?d. Which text features did you find most helpful?e. What clues in the article helped you figure out the text structure?

2. Give students the option to draw or write two or three sentences that tell you about the article.

a. What happened to make the Leaning Tower of Pisa dangerous?b. What was done to make it safer?

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KWL ChartWhat do I Know? What do I want to

find out?What did I learn?

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Text StructuresText Structure

Signal Words Signal to Reader

Description or listSuch as, for example, for instance, most important, in front, beside, near

A list or set of characteristics will follow.

Sequence or time order

First, second, third, before, on (date), not long after, after that, next, at the same time, finally, then

A sequence of events or steps in a process is being described.

Compare and contrastLike, unlike, but, in contrast, on the other hand, however, both, also, too, as well as

Likenesses and differences are being presented and/or discussed.

Cause and effectProblem and solution

Therefore, so, this led to, as a result, because, if… then

Evidence of cause(s) and effect(s) will be given or problems and solutions will be described.

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Pre-Reading Organizer

My Predictions About the Reading

Other Clues and Ideas

Clues from the Title and Headings

Picture Clues

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