| Posted By |
Message |
PennyCat
Just call me mommy :)
Member since 7/08 19084 total posts
Name:
Jib
|
Ideas for a fun non-fiction unit?
Anyone have ideas to make a fun non-fiction unit? We are stating non-fiction soon and I want to plan some fun activities my kids will enjoy. My students are in 7th grade special ed, so I would be interested in activities suitable for kids anywhere from 3-7 grade, since some of them are on a very low level.
TIA! 
|
Posted 12/16/09 9:58 PM  |
| |
|
Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Ideas for a fun non-fiction unit?
we've had students take out non-fiction books from the library and from that they have to create a picture book.
this is great, b/c you can really customize it to the students' interests and their levels.
|
| Posted 12/16/09 10:24 PM |
| |
|
MrsPetro2B
LIF Infant
Member since 9/08 344 total posts
Name:
A
|
Re: Ideas for a fun non-fiction unit?
Stephanie Harvey makes a great non-fiction tool kit pack with a ton of great lessons that teach the kids to navigate non-fiction. One of the best allows the kids to search through non-fiction books and look for the elements (like table of contents, photos diagrams) and talk about them. Then the teacher goes into each one in individual lessons and how it helps you to use them as a reader. Once then kids have reached an understanding of the elements they create (individually or in partnerships) how-to read non-fiction books and put an element and an explanation next to it. They had so much fun!
|
| Posted 12/17/09 6:36 AM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Ideas for a fun non-fiction unit?
Posted by Erica
we've had students take out non-fiction books from the library and from that they have to create a picture book.
this is great, b/c you can really customize it to the students' interests and their levels.
We do this, too, and in K we make template pages for them and basically do one page a day centered on one characteristic of the topic they pick (we do animals, but remember, it's K interests!) The key is to have the books available...might be where the library comes into play since they have so many books on different levels..we also found that teaching non-fiction allows us to reiterate a lot of reading strategies without it being dry and tired..we heart non fiction!
|
| Posted 12/17/09 9:00 PM |
| |
|
PennyCat
Just call me mommy :)
Member since 7/08 19084 total posts
Name:
Jib
|
Re: Ideas for a fun non-fiction unit?
Posted by TheDivaBrideandTeddyFrog
Posted by Erica
we've had students take out non-fiction books from the library and from that they have to create a picture book.
this is great, b/c you can really customize it to the students' interests and their levels.
We do this, too, and in K we make template pages for them and basically do one page a day centered on one characteristic of the topic they pick (we do animals, but remember, it's K interests!) The key is to have the books available...might be where the library comes into play since they have so many books on different levels..we also found that teaching non-fiction allows us to reiterate a lot of reading strategies without it being dry and tired..we heart non fiction!
Thanks to both of you! Only problem with using the library in my school is it's a middle school and carry mainly books on a middle school grade level. The selection of books for students below grade level (like my students who are really on 3rd and 4th for the most part - and a few on 2nd! ) there's really very little.
This means I'll have to visit my own library to bring in books to share with the kids in school and HOPE that they visit their own neighborhood library on their own time.
That's one huge gripe I have with my school's library. In many ways, it's useless for my kids 
Thank you for the idea though! That sounds interesting. I think I'll definitely try and put something together like that.
Any ideas for topics? I had the same kids last year and did animals. I'd like to do something different this year...... any thoughts?
ETA: just wanted to add a for Sabrina! I haven't seen u on here that much lately! Or maybe I'm just on here compulsively that everyone else is an infrequent poster in comparison! 
Message edited 12/17/2009 10:10:22 PM.
|
| Posted 12/17/09 10:03 PM |
| |
|
PennyCat
Just call me mommy :)
Member since 7/08 19084 total posts
Name:
Jib
|
Re: Ideas for a fun non-fiction unit?
Posted by MrsPetro2B
Stephanie Harvey makes a great non-fiction tool kit pack with a ton of great lessons that teach the kids to navigate non-fiction. One of the best allows the kids to search through non-fiction books and look for the elements (like table of contents, photos diagrams) and talk about them. Then the teacher goes into each one in individual lessons and how it helps you to use them as a reader. Once then kids have reached an understanding of the elements they create (individually or in partnerships) how-to read non-fiction books and put an element and an explanation next to it. They had so much fun!
Thanks, do you have a link for where I can find this exact thing online? I did a google search but came up with a whole assortment of stuff by her.
I noticed most of the kits are 45 bucks. Is it really worth that?! I'm wondering if I can get my school to reimburse me!
|
| Posted 12/17/09 10:06 PM |
| |
|
MrsPetro2B
LIF Infant
Member since 9/08 344 total posts
Name:
A
|
Re: Ideas for a fun non-fiction unit?
Our school sent us to training and then bought the kits for everyone last year after testing them out. We got the K-3 kits and the uppergrades are using them too because the kids don't have a lot of prior knowledge of it. It also has a bunch of lessons for reading in general. Heinman (the publisher) sells it from their site. I am pretty sure this is where my AP bought it from. Yeah, they are but if your school can reimburse you for it, it will be worth it! The teachers I work with love it and I know when I have done demos in rooms the kids love it too.
|
| Posted 12/18/09 7:40 AM |
| |
|
Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Ideas for a fun non-fiction unit?
Posted by PennyCat
Only problem with using the library in my school is it's a middle school and carry mainly books on a middle school grade level. The selection of books for students below grade level (like my students who are really on 3rd and 4th for the most part - and a few on 2nd! ) there's really very little.
ask the librarian - that's what they are there for...to service ALL the students...I order low level books all the time...especially non-fiction - it's better to be lower level.
If the librarian can't order now - ask them for next year.
|
| Posted 12/18/09 1:27 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Ideas for a fun non-fiction unit?
Aww, thanks for the and have some back!! I have been very busy, and I don't have the holidays for an excuse!! When I said library, I meant public either having the kids go or yourself (most likely you, sorry)..what are they interested? Do they like people? animals? places to visit? Maybe they could choose a country and make a travel brochure out of it using the info. they find...we do animals because the kids are young and they love it, but the possibilities are endless..maybe a vote on topic within the class?? Any other questions, let me know..we really like teaching the kids NF and they usually eat it up!
|
| Posted 12/18/09 4:34 PM |
| |
|
