Sorting & Describing Books

Building academic language

Word

• Explain that there are two common types of books: fiction and nonfiction. Fiction books tell made-up stories. Nonfiction books tell true information.
• Show an example of a nonfiction book and an example of a fiction book.
• Explain that fiction books often have drawings. Drawings may look like real life, but they are not an actual picture of something in the world.
• Show students a drawing in the fiction book.
• Explain that nonfiction books often have photographs. Photographs are pictures of something in real life. They are taken with a camera.
• Show student a photograph in the nonfiction book.

Sentence

• Go back the the book you read in the introduction portion of the lesson.
• Have students turn and talk to a partner about whether the book was fiction or nonfiction. Have students use the following sentence frame: "I think this book is fiction/nonfiction because ____."
• Ask students to share their ideas with the class.
• Now have students turn and talk to the same partner about whether the book has photographs or drawings. Have students use the following sentence frame: "The book has photographs/drawings. I know this because ____."
• Have students share their responses with the class.

Discourse

• Pass out the Bubble Map graphic organizer and a pile of books to each pair of students.
• Model how to write "Books" in the middle of the organizer. Explain that In the outside circles, students should draw pictures of the books they examine. Under the circles they can write "fiction" or "nonfiction." Model how to complete a drawing in one of the circles.