Lessons & Units :: Genre 3rd Grade Unit

Lesson 1: Realistic Fiction

Lesson Plan

Allie's Basketball Dream | 450L

Allie's Basketball Dream
Learning Goal
Identify the characteristics of realistic fiction.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Direct Teaching Example Chart
Not Provided: Allie’s Basketball Dream by Barbara E. Barber, chart paper, markers, fiction books from classroom library

  • Teacher Modeling

    will provide a definition of realistic fiction (The events in the story could happen, but did not). I will chart the definition of realistic fiction and some of the characteristics of the genre. (Direct Teaching Example Chart provided below in Teacher and Student Materials.) I will tell two stories about our class. The first will be a fantasy story that takes place in the classroom but is about a student flying across the room. The second is a realistic fiction story that takes place in the classroom, but is about an argument between two students. I will discuss how the first story could not have happened; the second story could have happened, but didn’t. Although it is a fiction story, it is realistic.

  • Think Check

    Ask: How did I know that the second story I told was an example of realistic fiction? Students should respond that you thought about whether the story was possible or impossible. You also thought about if the story was true—it really happened—or made up.

  • Guided Practice

    will read Allie’s Basketball Dream by Barbara E. Barber and discuss whether the events from the story are realistic. We will stop every 2–3 pages to discuss whether the events are realistic. For example, a father giving his daughter a basketball as a gift could happen. It is realistic.

  • Independent Practice

    will choose one realistic fiction book from the classroom library. You will identify the characteristics of the book that tell you it is realistic fiction.

Build Student Vocabulary mumbled

Tier 2 Word: mumbled
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story When Allie heard the boys laugh at her, she mumbled, “boys!”
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) To mumble is to speak softly and unclearly. Allie mumbled, or spoke softly and unclearly, so that the boys couldn’t hear what she said.
Students repeat the word Say the word mumbled with me: mumbled.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts In the grocery store I heard a man mumble that there were not enough bananas. When I dropped a book on the floor, I mumbled to myself that I was not being careful. Sometimes people mumble when they are embarrassed.
Students provide examples Think of a time when you heard somebody mumble. What did he or she mumble about? Tell me about it by saying, “Once I heard ____________ mumble about ____________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? mumbled
Additional Vocabulary Words exclaimed, applauded

Build Student Background Knowledge

After reading the book, explain to your class that women now have a professional American basketball league called the WNBA. The WNBA has 12 teams and is much younger than its partner organization, the NBA. The WNBA was founded in 1997, after the American women's basketball team won the Olympic gold medal in the 1996 Olympic games.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

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User Comments

I love this lesson!

Submitted by semcneal_1337909 on 9/11/15

Great Lesson

Submitted by Maria Garza on 10/12/12