LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Shhh! Bear's sleeping: Learning about nonfiction and fiction using read-alouds

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=897

A lesson plan for grades K–2 English Language Arts and Science

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The teacher introduces students to many different genres of literature in this lesson that explores the differences between fiction and nonfiction. After reading “Big Paws,” the teacher engages students in a discussion about bears and creates a brainstorming list. Then, the teacher introduces Bear Snores On by taking students on a picture walk through the book and by questioning students about whether they think the content is real. In the second session, students add to the brainstorming list and then learn to sing “Little Bear”. After reading the “Bear Finger Play” poem, the teacher shows students how to act out the motions using their fingers. Then students create their own bear puppets using the bear puppet template. After reviewing the materials used to teach about bears, they teacher reads Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky, a nonfiction book about real bears. At the end of the story, students are challenged to discuss whether their predictions from the earlier works were correct, and the teacher guides them in comparing the two main texts. Then, using the facts from the literary resources, the class works together to write a book about bears. Once the book is complete, the teacher makes copies for all students and they illustrate the pages individually. Readwritethink suggests several extension activities.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 1

  • Goal 2: The learner will develop and apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.02: Demonstrate familiarity with a variety of texts (storybooks, short chapter books, newspapers, telephone books, and everyday print such as signs and labels, poems, word plays using alliteration and rhyme, skits and short plays).
    • Objective 2.03: Read and comprehend both fiction and nonfiction text appropriate for grade one using:
      • prior knowledge.
      • summary.
      • questions.
      • graphic organizers.
    • Objective 2.05: Predict and explain what will happen next in stories.
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.06: Compose a variety of products (e.g., stories, journal entries, letters, response logs, simple poems, oral retellings).

Grade 2

  • Goal 2: The learner will develop and apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.01: Read and comprehend both narrative and expository text appropriate for grade two by:
      • determining purpose (reader's and author's).
      • making predictions.
      • asking questions.
      • locating information for specific reasons/purposes.
      • recognizing and applying text structure.
      • comprehending and evaluating author's decisions and word choice.
      • determining fact and opinion.
      • recognizing and comprehending figurative language.
      • making inferences and drawing conclusions.
    • Objective 2.02: Use text for a variety of functions, including literary, informational, and practical.
    • Objective 2.06: Recall main ideas, facts and details from a text.
    • Objective 2.07: Discuss similarities and differences in events, characters and concepts within and across texts.

Kindergarten

  • Goal 1: The learner will develop and apply enabling strategies to read and write.
    • Objective 1.01: Develop book and print awareness:
      • identify the parts of books and function of each part.
      • demonstrate an understanding of directionality and voice-print match by following print word for word when listening to familiar text read aloud.
      • demonstrate an understanding of letters, words, and story.
      • identify the title, name of the author and the name of the illustrator.
    • Objective 1.04: Read or begin to read.
      • Read or attempt to read own dictated story.
      • Attempt to read/reads simple patterned text, decodable text, and/or predictable texts using letter-sound knowledge and pictures to construct meaning.
  • Goal 2: The learner will develop and apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.02: Demonstrate familiarity with a variety of types of books and selections (e.g., picture books, caption books, short informational texts, nursery rhymes, word plays/finger plays, puppet plays, reenactments of familiar stories).
    • Objective 2.03: Use preparation strategies to activate prior knowledge and experience before and during the reading of a text.
    • Objective 2.05: Predict possible events in texts before and during reading.
    • Objective 2.08: Distinguish fantasy from reality when reading text.
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.06: Write and/or participate in writing behaviors by using authors' models of language.

Science (2005)

Grade 1

  • Goal 1: The learner will conduct investigations and make observations to build an understanding of the needs of living organisms.
    • Objective 1.02: Investigate the needs of a variety of different animals:
      • Air.
      • Water.
      • Food.
      • Shelter.
      • Space.

Kindergarten

  • Goal 1: The learner will make observations and build an understanding of similarities and differences in animals.