Introduction to Non-Fiction
Text: Two or three short current news articles
Materials:
- Ordinary household objects (quanity will depend on class size and personal preference)
- Chart paper/markers
Development of Learning Activity:
- Read the newspaper articles, either aloud or silently.
- After articles are read, begin a chart titled, "Features of Non-Fiction." Elicit responses from students. (I taught them the word "objective", when one student said that non-fiction articles are written from a 3rd person POV)
- After this initial discussion, switch gears to free write. Chart the rules of free writing.
| 1. Do not worry about spelling, punctuation or grammar. |
| 2. Write on any topic you like. You may switch topics in the middle of writing. |
| 3. If you can't think of anything to write, just write "I can't think of anything to write", over and over again. |
- Students should free write for at least 5 minutes, longer if you feel they can.
- After the freewrite, set up stations around the room, arranging desks into tables. At each station, place an ordinary household object.
- Groups should freewrite for three minutes about the object.
- When the three minutes are up, have each group make a chart titled, "What I Noticed About ________________", using their notes. Add information about color, size and shape if necessary.
- Wrap up the lesson by having groups brainstorm a list of questions and problems they'd like to find the answers to. Make a big chart with their responses.
Assessment:
- Students will demonstrate understanding by describing something in objective terms. (Short term)
- Students will succesfully produce a written report of information. (Long term)
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