Guess The Genre!

Students apply knowledge of genres to identify different genres from "reading-alouds of excerpts" from selected books representing different genres.

A lesson plan for grade 3 Information Skills

By Ann Jenkins

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

• brainstorm different genres, based on prior knowledge.
• organize information in graphical format using CIRCLE MAPS (Thinking Maps).
• exhibit good listening skills and use appropriate vocabulary to identify genres to the teacher.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

40 Minutes

Materials/resources

Media coordinator / specialist will gather books representing genres of: Poetry, Fairy Tale, Biography, Fiction, Nonfiction.
The books will be covered in paper to hide the titles from the students.

Wipe Off Board with Circle Maps drawn for each genre

Technology resources

None

Pre-activities

Introduction to genres by the classroom teacher will occur in lessons conducted in the classroom or in joint class - media center lessons/ activities by the teacher and the media coordinator.

Introduction to Circle Maps (part of Thinking Maps curriculum) by teacher in classroom.

Activities

1. The students will brainstorm types of genres.
2. Selected students will write a genre in a circle already drawn on the wipe-off board.
3. Students will volunteer key words to identify the genre by filling in the Circle Map for each genre on the wipe-off board.
4. Students will be instructed to wait until the media specialist finishes reading the excerpt from the selected books before guessing the genre.
5. The media coordinator / specialist will randomly draw from a stack of disguised books by to read aloud excerpts to the class.
6. The students will volunteer to guess the genre. Upon guessing the correct genre, the book will be unwrapped so students can see the title and the title of the book will be added to the circle map for that genre in the “frame of reference” section of the map.
7. The lesson will proceed as students continue to identify the genres of the books from the reading of the excerpts and as they add the titles to the circle maps matching the genre.

Assessment

Observation of excited responses by students of the genre, after readings the excerpts.

Correct matching of genres to definitions on handout

• _____ biography
• _____ autobiography
• _____ poetry
• _____ historical fiction
• _____ science fiction
• _____ realistic fiction
• _____ fairy tales
• _____ nonfiction

• Happy Ending
• Informational
• True story someone writes about himself/herself
• Writing that has rhythm or rhyme and stirs feelings
• Make-believe story that includes some facts from history
• True story written about someone
• Make-believe story with some real science ideas included
• A make-believe story that could be true.

Supplemental information

Gather books in advance and skim the books for excerpts that reveal the type of genre the book represents. Cover the books with paper to hide the titles from students. Mark the pages for the read-aloud activitiy

Related websites

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/childlit.htm#E

Comments

The students love the “mystery” factor guessing the genre from the covered books. They are especially excited when they recognize the actual story and can tell the teacher or class the title of the book. They also love being chosen to write the information in the CIRCLE MAP on the wipe-off board.