1st Grade, 2nd Grade and 3rd Grade
AASL V.A.1 Learners develop and satisfy personal curiosity by reading variety and multiple formats.
MO ELA Standards: R.1.1.C.a, R.1.2.C.a
1 class periods of 30 minutes each
This lesson was created by Lara Garrett from Wanda Gray Elementary, Springfield Public Schools.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Students will learn how to determine the problem and solution in a story. Using the story Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko and Ruth Chan and a sampling of other fiction and nonfiction books, students will practice recognizing the characteristics of fiction and nonfiction books.
Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko and Ruth Chan ISBN 978-1534494640
A variety of fiction and nonfiction books
Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Objectives: Identifying and comparing fiction and nonfiction. Listening and speaking skills/library procedures
I Can Statement: I can compare fiction and nonfiction books.
Before Reading:
Introduction-Fiction and Nonfiction Review:
Have books both fiction and nonfiction out and available to students.
Review Questions:
What are some clues that tell you a book is fiction? What about nonfiction?
Can you find a nonfiction book and a fiction book? What makes them different?
How do the pictures or illustrations in fiction books differ from those in nonfiction books?
Fiction Questions:
Does this story have characters that could be real or imaginary? How can you tell?
What parts of this story could not happen in real life?
How does the author use the setting in this fiction book? Could it exist in real life?
Nonfiction Questions:
What is the main purpose of this nonfiction book? What facts does it teach you?
Can you find headings or sections that help you understand the information better?
How does the author organize the information in this nonfiction book? Why do you think it’s organized that way?
Comparison Prompts:
Compare the structure of a fiction and nonfiction book. What do you notice about how they are written?
How does the beginning of a nonfiction book differ from a fiction book? What is the focus of each?
Do both fiction and nonfiction books teach us something? How are the lessons or information different?
Text Features:
Look at the text features like tables of contents, indexes, or glossaries. Which type of book (fiction or nonfiction) do you usually find them in? Why?
Do both fiction and nonfiction books have illustrations or pictures? How are they different in each type of book?
Introduce the book:
Let’s look at Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko and Ruth Chan
Will this book be fiction or nonfiction? How do we know?
During Reading:
Read Aloud: Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko and Ruth Chan. Engage students with a discussion about the story and the humor the author adds to the story.
After Reading:
Ask students to provide examples from Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko and Ruth Chan that show it is a fiction book.
For example: “What clues can you find in Rick the Rock of Room 214 that tell you it’s a fiction book?
A rock with an eyes and mouth
Things from nature (bark, moss, rocks, etc.) having conversations.
A rock having feelings
A rock being able to move because it decided to (falling into the girl’s backpack)
Then, ask students to think of nonfiction books they’ve read or seen and how they differ. Hold up a couple of books to mention nonfiction features that will be explored in more detail in a future lesson. Students may mention text features such as photographs, diagrams, real facts, and so on.
Informal Discussion:
As students discuss, listen for key indicators that they understand the differences. Are they able to identify elements like imaginary characters, events that couldn’t happen, or other creative aspects of fiction? Do they contrast this with facts, real-life people, or events when discussing nonfiction?
Student Participation:
Take note of which students are contributing thoughtful examples or connections between fiction and nonfiction. This can serve as an informal gauge of their understanding.
Post-it Note Activity:
Provide each student with a fiction picture book and a set of Post-it notes. Ask them to mark examples that show why their book is fiction. For example, students might note talking animals, magical events, or imaginative elements.
Support for Struggling Learners:
Provide additional guidance by giving students specific features to look for (e.g., "Does your book have photographs? How can we tell this story is not about something that could really happen?"). They may also work with partners to support this activity.
Challenge for Advanced Students:
Have these students not only mark examples but also write brief explanations on their Post-it notes to explain how each feature supports the book being fiction. Realistic fiction may also prove to be an additional challenge.
