Fiction or Nonfiction?

Over the past few months we have spent lots of time learning about the features of nonfiction books.  We sure know a lot!  Here is a summary of what we shared with each other.
Most nonfiction books

• have a table of contents (located at the front of the book)
• have an index (located at the back of the book)
• have a glossary (which is like a mini dictionary)
• have bold words
• have pictures, diagrams, maps
• have captions and text boxes
• are fact based
• don't have to be read from start to finish. You can start anywhere!

We wrote our ideas on a Venn Diagram.  Then we talked about what we knew about stories.  This is what we came up with . . .

• they are not true
• you have to read them from the beginning to the end

Next we read a story from the Nelson Literacy series called "The Turnip Garden."  While we read we learned that stories have certain features too!  They have . . . .

• characters
• a setting
• events
• a problem
• a solution

We found out that the beginning of a story usually tells us about the characters and the setting, the middle usually tells us the problem and we find out how the problem is solved at the end of the story.  Some stories have many characters and many problems.  They can also take place in a variety of settings!  This makes for interesting reading!

We added our new learning to our Venn Diagram.

Then we were given some time to act out the Turnip Garden.  It was lots of fun!  The next story we read was . . .

We discussed the elements of this story.  First we listed the characters and then we identified the problem and solution.  Finally we had time to do more acting!  This time we tried to add some words to our acting.  Mrs. Betts video taped us and we got to watch ourselves on the big screen.  We talked about what we did well and how we could improve.  We LOVE acting out stories! 

We related all these features to the chapter book, "Clementine" by Sara Pennypacker, which we are reading aloud as a class.  We have learned lots about Clementine as a character!  She is quite the character!


Which do you prefer to read, fiction or nonfiction books?