As an upper elementary reading teacher, you probably expect your students to know the difference between fiction and nonfiction, but that is not always the case. Without a true understanding of the two different genres, students often still think that a story is nonfiction just because it can happen in real life. Other students rely too heavily on the pictures or title instead of truly thinking about the text itself.
What is the best way to fix this lack of understanding between fiction and nonfiction? Explicit instruction through guided inquiry.
Our upper elementary students need direct instruction on the elements and features of fiction and nonfiction. Students need time to look at examples, discuss what they notice, and identify the elements that separate fiction from nonfiction. They also need practice explaining how they know instead of just choosing an answer.
When students truly understand the difference between fiction and nonfiction, they can approach each type of text with a better understanding of what to expect, what to look for, and how to make meaning from what they read.
Here are my favorite go-to lesson ideas and engaging ways to help students understand the difference between fiction and nonfiction.
1. Teach Fiction VS Nonfiction Genres
Defining fiction and nonfiction for kids is a must! Start with the two biggest genre buckets before diving into genres like fables, mysteries, and biographies. Once students understand fiction elements and nonfiction features, you can move on to teach about the different reading genres.
I love to kick off fiction vs. nonfiction lessons by visiting a basket of classroom library books or books I've already read aloud with students and begin discussing what elements are in each using a T-chart to compare the two genres.
When I do this, I love to grab two books on the same topic: one fiction and one nonfiction. For this, you can grab any books in your classroom library. In the past, I have used fiction and nonfiction books on topics such as soccer and dolphins. Here are examples: Magic Tree House Dolphins and Daybreak and Whales and Dolphins. Using books on the same topic in different genres is a great way to build a comparison chart for fiction and nonfiction with your students that you can use throughout the year.
2. Classroom Library Exploration
Once you have modeled sorting books that you have read aloud into fiction and nonfiction, it is time for the kids to explore either your classroom library or the school library to find fiction and nonfiction books. If you don't want the kids to have free range in either library, you can create your own buckets of books with a mix of fiction and nonfiction. Have the kids explore that bucket to analyze the difference between the two genres.
Hold your students accountable for their genre exploration by having them complete book hunt reflection forms!
3. Practice with Partners
Now that you have kicked off your lessons and discussed how to compare and understand the differences between fiction and nonfiction, the best way to keep the learning going is to have kids work with partners and engage in meaningful discourse.
Start by giving students this fiction and nonfiction anchor chart and have them discuss the differences. Once they are done, have students complete activities that require discourse. Fiction sorts, practice pages, and genre focused task cards are a great way to have the kids discuss different types of texts, figuring out which genre they are!
4. Dive into Paired Passages
Now your students are ready to put their understanding of fiction vs. nonfiction to the text with paired passage activities! Have your students read a fiction and nonfiction typed text on the same topic at the same time. As they read, have them highlight fiction elements and nonfiction features to show which text is which. Through reading, discussion, and completion of the reading reflection page, your students will prove what they learned about fiction vs. nonfiction!
5. Be a Genre Detective Task Cards
I love to revisit the concept of fiction vs nonfiction throughout the year. The kids always benefit from the additional practice. To do this, you can always discuss the genre of the books you read aloud, keep two baskets in the front of the room with one being fiction books and the other being nonfiction books, and practice this skill with fiction vs. nonfiction task cards throughout the year.
Grab free reading activities designed to support reading comprehension strategies:
Teaching fiction and nonfiction doesn't have to be complicated, but it does need to go beyond asking students to just choose the label of fiction or nonfiction. Start with what you have in the classroom, like books and previous read-alouds. Model for your students how to look for clues, and give your students plenty of opportunities to explain their thinking.
Before long, you will see your students stop guessing based on the title or pictures and begin using real evidence from the text. I know these ideas will help your students build a stronger understanding of the differences between fiction and nonfiction that they can use all year long!
👉Grab the no-prep lesson pack to help your students understand the difference between fiction and nonfiction once and for all!
Check out my favorite reading activities HERE...
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