Lessons & Units :: Genre 2nd Grade Unit

Lesson 2: Characteristics of Nonfiction

Lesson Plan

In the Wild: Leopards

In the Wild: Leopards
Learning Goal
Identify and describe the characteristics of a nonfiction book.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Example Chart for Direct Teaching and Guided Practice, Example Direct Teaching and Guided Practice Graphic Organizer, Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: In the Wild: Leopards by Stephanie St. Pierre, nonfiction books from classroom library and on students’ reading levels

  • Teacher Modeling

    will review the Venn diagram from Lesson 1 comparing fiction and nonfiction books. I will explain that there are some common characteristics of nonfiction books. I will use the book In the Wild: Leopards by Stephanie St. Pierre to identify, discuss, and chart some of the common characteristics of nonfiction books. (Direct Teaching and Guided Practice Example Graphic Organizer and Example Chart are provided in Teacher and Student Materials below.)

  • Think Check

    Ask: How did identify typical characteristics of a nonfiction book? Students should respond that you looked at different parts of the book in the beginning, middle, and end and thought about how those parts of the book help the reader.

  • Guided Practice

    will look through other nonfiction books (provided by the teacher) to identify these characteristics and others to add to the chart. We will discuss how each characteristic helps us as readers. For example, the Table of Contents helps us find where to look in the text for specific information.

  • Independent Practice

    will read a nonfiction book at your level and identify at least 2 nonfiction characteristics in your book. You will explain how identifying that characteristic helps you as a reader. (Student Independent Practice is provided below.)

Build Student Vocabulary pouncing

Tier 2 Word: pouncing
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story The leopard sneaks up on its prey before pouncing on it to make a kill.
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) To pounce on something is to jump on it suddenly and grab hold of it. When the author says that leopards pounce on other animals, she means that they jump on other animals suddenly and grab them.
Students repeat the word Say the word pouncing with me: pouncing.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts The cat waited quietly by a mouse hole so that she could pounce on the mouse as soon as it came out. When I took out my camera in the museum, the security guard pounced on me and told me that it was against the rules to take pictures. When my son took my daughter’s lollypop, she pounced on him and took it back.
Students provide examples Can you think of a time a person or animal might pounce? Tell me about it by saying, “A person or animal might pounce when _______________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? pounce
Additional Vocabulary Words visible, growl

Build Student Background Knowledge

While sharing the characteristics of nonfiction, explain to students that photographs are important elements of nonfiction because they show readers how things actually look and act in real life. Show some photographs from the book, and explain that a person who takes pictures for a job is called a photographer. There are many different kinds of photographers, such as nature photographers, who might travel around the world taking pictures of plants and animals; travel photographers, who take pictures of cities and travel hot spots around the world; and news photographers, or photojournalists, who are at the scene of crimes, wars, important speeches, and take photographs for newspapers.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

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User Comments

Does anyone have a suggested replacment book? This one is $2000 on AMAZON.

Submitted by mroden_1 on 12/1/16

Did you ever find where to purchase this book?

Submitted by kdmakris on 4/7/17