Lessons & Units

Genre Kindergarten Unit

Lessons

Lesson 1 Real and Make-Believe Classify and categorize based on real and make-believe.
Lesson 2 Fiction Identify and describe a fiction text.
Go, Dog. Go!
Go, Dog. Go!
Lesson 3 Nonfiction Identify and describe a nonfiction text.
Your Pet Dog
Your Pet Dog
Lesson 4 Distinguishing Fiction and Nonfiction Identify the difference between fiction and nonfiction.
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type
See How they Grow: Calf
See How they Grow: Calf

Unit Extension Ideas

  • Discuss whether books are fiction or nonfiction in read aloud sessions and reading groups. Have students explain how they recognize these genres.
  • In the Genre Studies Unit, discuss whether a book from a specific genre (fairy tale, biography) is fiction or nonfiction and how students can determine the difference.
  • Have students sort books in the classroom library based on genre and explain their reasoning. Create a class list of fiction and nonfiction books and post the list in the classroom.
  • Tell a story about a familiar activity (gym class), making one a fiction story and the other a nonfiction story. Ask students to explain the differences between the two versions.

Teacher and Student Materials

More Books for Teaching Genre

How Teddy Bears Are Made: A Visit to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory

How Teddy Bears Are Made: A Visit to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory

Lexile
560L
Noisy Nora

Noisy Nora

Fountas and Pinnell
I
Lexile
320L
Bread and Jam for Frances

Bread and Jam for Frances

Fountas and Pinnell
K
Lexile
490L
Let's Go to the Zoo

Let's Go to the Zoo

Lexile
100L
Harriet and the Roller Coaster

Harriet and the Roller Coaster

Fountas and Pinnell
K
Lexile
330L
Martha Speaks

Martha Speaks

Lexile
420L
Koko's Kitten

Koko's Kitten

Lexile
610L
Autumn (Seasons of the Year)

Autumn (Seasons of the Year)

Sheep in a Jeep

Sheep in a Jeep

Fountas and Pinnell
G
Lexile
120L

User Comments

I am going to have K students look at HALLOWEEN costumes to identity which can be REAL (doctor) or MAKE-BELIEVE (monster).
First introduction to GENRES.

Submitted by shaynaresnick_1628515 on 10/18/15

That's a great idea! I had a self differentiating decoding center where kids sounded out the name of each costume (some were only recording beginning sound, others stretching the word). I could have them sort the cards as a final step. Thanks for the idea!!

Submitted by jessica.cherry_1038197 on 11/12/15

Thank you for these amazing resources.

Submitted by lisamc234_1064162 on 5/12/15