Genres Lesson Plan

Lesson: Guess the Genre
By: Ann Jenkins
Primary Subject: Language Arts
Grade Level: Elementary School

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.

MATERIALS/RESOURCES:

1. 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.
2. Wipe Off Board with Circle Maps drawn for each genre

PRE-ACTIVITIES:

1. 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.
2. Introduction to Circle Maps (part of Thinking Maps curriculum) by teacher in classroom.

ACTIVITIES & PROCEDURES:

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.

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This is a fun way to challenge students about the genres of literature.

What was GOOD about Jenkins' lesson?

• Jenkins incorporates the media specialist into the lesson. Therefore, students are able to connect an activity in the library with their English class.
  
• Jenkins gives students a "cheat sheet" by beginning the lesson with having them create a list of the literary genres.
  
• Jenkins makes students apply their knowledge of the literary genres. Students have to identify the type of genre based on a short excerpt of the story.
  

What would I do to IMPROVE Jenkins' lesson?

• Begin the lesson with an overview of the types of literary genres. See below.
  
• Have students orally complete the assessment activity. Then, use this same assessment as a follow-up activity the next day in class.