Title III Learning Experience
Is It Fiction Or Non-Fiction?

OBJECTIVE: Students will be able to distinguish between the genres of Fiction and Non Fiction as found in book and electronic print format, after hearing books read aloud and locating information on a CD-ROM.

I. LEARNING CONTEXT

1. Standards

• This learning experience meets ELA Standard 1 "Language for Information and Understanding information appropriate to the purpose of their investigation " and they will be able to "categorize information" on a simple level.
• This experience also meets ELA Standard 2 "Language for Literary Response and Expression". After this experience, students will begin to develop a skill for "reading a variety of genres " and be "able to recognize some features that distinguish those genres".
• This experience meets ELA Standard 3 "Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation". After this introductory experience, students will begin to develop a skill for evaluating text and electronic data, and "read and form opinions about a variety of literary and informational texts and presentations"
• This experience meets ELA Standard 4 "Language for Social Interaction". After this experience , students will demonstrate how to "listen attentively and recognize where it is appropriate to speak"

1. This learning experience is an integral, basic part of the library skills curriculum. Also, the classroom teacher uses these literary terms in literature discussions. Terms such as "story", "information", "call number" and "book spine" are familiar from previous weekly library lessons. It is in the Library Media Center that the reality of WHAT these books are, WHERE they would be Found and WHEN they would be used, actually comes into practice.

C. Students will be utilizing these developing skills:

DECLARATIVE

• Identify components of Story and Information materials
• Understand how to identify "alike and different"
• Understand how to locate Fiction and Non Fiction Materials

PROCEDURAL

• Categorize what they see and hear
• Vote by holding up the appropriate voting card
• Be familiar with operating the computer and CD ROM

II. PROCEDURE

When students enter the Library, and are ready to listen, the librarian will display two books about

the same subject, one fiction and one non-fiction. She/he will then point out the theme word written the display board, in this case "bats", and tell the students that today they will be hearing two books on the same subject. She will hand out two 3x5 cards to each child, one yellow with the word "fiction" written on it and the other green, with "non fiction" written there. After spelling and reading aloud these two terms, the class will briefly discuss the meanings and point out where the words can be found in other places in the library. linking their responses to prior knowledge from earlier lessons. The term fiction will be used to mean "a story with a little information" and non-fiction to mean "information with no story". It should be pointed out that sometimes story books have some information, but that non-fiction books do not have stories. The terms compare and contrast will be introduced as "alike and different" as merits of each book are discussed. The librarian then reads aloud the two books, Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (Scholastic 1993) and Bats, Shadows in the Night, by Diane Ackerman (Crown, 1997). When the reading, or if necessary, paraphrasing, is completed, the students will vote on their decision as to whether the book is fiction or non-fiction, by raising the yellow or green cards. When the votes are counted, the librarian will note them on the board. At this time, it is appropriate to ask some of the correct voters to explain why the book is a story or an information title. Students should be shown where the two types of books are shelved and how to distinguish between them by the call number on the book spine.

After further discussion, the students will use the CD-ROM "Animals" from the San Diego Zoo, to view the article on "Bats". They will work in pairs to select the correct article and use the graphic organizer to record their opinions. The librarian will summarize what they have learned and ask them to talk about those two genres at home when they share their newly chosen library books.

III. INSTRUCTIONAL/ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS

• Students should be seated on the floor in a manner so that they can all see the board and comfortably see and hear the books being read.
• Librarian will read titles and new terms aloud, spelling and saying each new word, i.e. "fiction and non fiction."
• This experience could be adapted for other genres or grade levels by substituting specific

Literature types.

IV. MATERIALS & SUPPLIES

• One hard cover copy of Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon, (Scholastic, 1993)
• One hard cover copy of Bats, Shadows in the Night, by Diane Ackerman, (Crown, 1997)
• 24 sets of fiction/non-fiction yellow and green voting cards; one for each student
• "Animals" CD ROM produced by the San Diego Zoo and computer set up to run program
• 12 copies of graphic organizer to record vote on CD ROM material; one for each pair of students

V. ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

Students will be continually assessed during the current and following library visits as they select and locate other books in the Library Media Center. The following Performance Indicators will be utilized:

• ELA Standard 1 - Listening and Reading –

"Select information appropriate to the purpose of their investigation"

• I will observe students as they select materials from various areas of the library, searching for either fiction of non-fiction books.

"Select and use strategies they have been taught for notetaking, organizing and categorizing information"

I ask students each week to line up at the end of class in one of two lines, the "fiction folks" or the "non-fiction fellows"; to see if they can categorize their own newly selected library books.

• ELA Standard 2 - Listening and Reading-

"Read a variety of different genre picture books…and works of fiction and non-fiction"

Throughout the year, I observe as students select and borrow many different appropriate genres, and are able to distinguish among them.

• ELA Standard 2 – Speaking and Writing-

"Present responses to and interpretations of works of recognized literary merit"

Students can list titles of Fiction and Non Fiction in a Reading Log and star those that Would be most helpful in fact finding.

• ELA Standard 3 - Listening and Reading-

"Read and form opinions about a variety of literary and informational texts and presentations"

I observe as each team uses the computer with the CD ROM program to locate information and use the graphic organizer to record their answers. I review the answers with each team as well.

• ELA Standard 4 - Listening and Reading-

"Listen attentively and recognize where it is appropriate for them to speak"

During the Read Aloud time and the voting period, I observe them listening, speaking and sharing their ideas about the books.

VI. TIME REQUIRED

• Planning Time - 45 minutes to choose and pre-read any appropriate fiction and non-fiction titles on the same topic.
  - 45 minutes to create voting cards and graphic organizer
  - 10 minutes to set up the CD ROM to coordinate with the book

• Implementation - 30 minute weekly library visit – may extend to following week
• Assessment - Ongoing assessment as students develop skills during weekly classes and independent visits to the library.

7. STUDENT WORK - Student work will be completed on the attached handout sheet.

VIII REFLECTION

This is a very important lesson, which can be taught early in the school year to first grade classes and reviewed and checked for understanding periodically during the subsequent classes. It could be expanded to include other genres and could include an experience in locating the materials on the shelves later in the year as the students become more familiar with the library collection. It is the basis for an important life-long learning skill and a stepping stone for continued, empowered use of any library, anywhere.

6/99

First Grade Library Project

Fiction and Non Fiction Books

Team names ________________________________

________________________________

We looked at the "Animals" CD ROM. We read the words on the computer. What we read is called _________________.

Date_____________