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Entire Librarylesson-planSecond GradeReading & WritingExamining Author's Purpose in a Fictional Text

Lesson Plan

Examining Author's Purpose in a Fictional Text

Students will read a short fictional story and discuss why the author included certain details and words. Use this lesson to help your students navigate parts of fictional text to determine the author's purpose!
Need extra help for EL students? Try the Using Picture Walks to Examine Purpose pre-lesson.
Grade
Second Grade
Subject
Reading & Writing
English Learner
English Learner Content
View aligned standards
RL.2.2
RL.2.3
Need extra help for EL students? Try the Using Picture Walks to Examine Purpose pre-lesson.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to recount parts of a fictional text.

The adjustment to the whole group lesson is a modification to differentiate for children who are English learners.
EL adjustments

Introduction

(5 minutes)
Choice StoryboardEmily's Turtle
  • Explain to students that today they will be reading a short fictional text and trying to figure out what the central message of the text is, or the lesson or message the author is trying to explain to the reader. Call on a student to explain what an author is. Make sure the students understand that the author is the person who writes a story.
  • Ask for a volunteer to explain some characteristics of fiction. Reinforce that a fictional text can sometimes be realistic, but it usually has made up characters and is pretend. Explain that unlike nonfiction text that we read for information, fiction text can be read for enjoyment and sometimes teaches us a lesson.
  • Allow a few students to find fictional stories they have read from the classroom library and explain why the stories are fictional.
  • Write the learning objective in student-friendly language on the board: "I can explain the words and phrases the author uses to help me understand the message of the story."

Beginning:

  • Define vocabulary terms in student's home language (L1), if student is literate in their L1.
  • Practice finding the message of a fictional text in a teacher-led small group prior to the lesson.

Intermediate:

  • Allow students to sit near the front of the classroom during the introduction.
  • Encourage students to find fictional stories they have read from the classroom library.