Description Supplemental Lexia Lessons can be used for whole class, small group or individualized instruction to extend learning and enhance student skill development. This lesson is designed to help students recognize that there are varied types of fictional and informational texts, and that readers look for details that show a book s content and creators. Teacher Tips You can adapt this lesson for older students by providing a variety of illustrated books from a library. Guide students to identify topics of nonfiction books, genres of fiction (including fantasy, realistic fiction, folklore), authors, illustrators, and features that all the books share, such as front and back covers, jacket copy, title pages, copyright pages, and author/illustrator biographies. Preparation/Materials A copy of the two illustrated book covers from the end of the lesson (for display only) Copies of four book covers to cut out (to pass out to students) Three age-appropriate published books: (1) a picture book featuring fantasy characters and events; (2) a picture book depicting one or more children in a realistic setting; and (3) an informational book with illustrations and/or photographs. Direct Instruction Today we ll be learning how books are alike and how they are different. When we choose a book to read, we can tell right away what type of book it is. We can also tell who wrote the words and who made the pictures. Display the book cover showing Cora the Flying Cow. Point to each element as you discuss it. This is the front cover of a book. These words show the title of the book: Cora the Flying Cow. The picture on the cover shows a cow with wings. The details in the picture show me that this book is a made-up story. How can we tell that this story is not about real life? (Real cows don t have wings and don t fly.) This story is made up by an author. These words tell me who the author is: Written by Rachel Jessup. What did the author Rachel Jessup do? (made up the story; imagined what would happen if a cow could fly; wrote the words to tell the story) This story has pictures in it. These words tell me who made the pictures: Illustrated by Mark Haddad. What did the illustrator Mark Haddad do? (drew the pictures to go with the story; imagined what a flying cow would look like) Display the book cover showing Cows Give Milk. Point to each element as you discuss it: Now we ll look at the front cover of a different book. I ll read these words: Cows Give Milk. What are these words called? (the title) The picture on the cover shows two cows eating grass. The cows in the picture look real. This is a book that gives facts and other true information. What will we probably find in this book of information? (facts about real-life cows; information about how we get milk from cows) Script page 1
I ll read the words under the title: by Donald Abramson. Who is Donald Abramson? (the author of the book; the person who wrote the words in the book; the person who wrote facts about cows and milk) Information books have pictures in them, too. These words tell me about the illustrator: Drawings by Trina Bogen. What did Trina Bogen do? (drew the pictures to go with the information; made pictures of real-life cows) Guided Practice Display the informational book you have selected. Give students time to examine it. Read aloud the text on the front cover. Ask these questions, and encourage students to elaborate on their responses: Is this an information book or a story book? (an information book) How can you tell? (Students should use information from the title and cover illustration to explain that they will learn facts from the book.) Who is the author of the book? How can you tell? Who illustrated the book? How can you tell? Where is the back cover? What can you find on it? Point out the title page. Ask students how it is like and different from the front cover. Read aloud the name of the publisher, which is usually included on the title page. Explain that a publishing company makes and sells books. Display the two fiction books you have selected. Ask students to identify the front cover, the back cover, and the title page. Have students point to the title, the author s name, and the illustrator s name, for you to read aloud. Discuss the role of the author and illustrator. Then ask the following questions to compare and contrast the types of books displayed. How are these two books different from the information book? (In both books, the stories are made up by the author.) If you like reading stories about things that can t happen in real life, which book would you choose? (Students identify the fantasy book.) What kind of story is in the other book? (Students should recognize that events that seem as if they could happen are made up by an author in the realistic-fiction story.) Independent Application Display these two category labels to read aloud with students: Stories Information Distribute the page showing four book covers. Read the text on each aloud to students. Then have partners cut out the boxes and work together to sort them into the two categories shown. Script page 2
After partners have completed their sorts, review the titles and categories. Discuss why each book belongs in its category. Students should note that Pig and Cat Are Pals is a story (fiction) because the author imagined that stuffed animals could be alive. My Home in Puerto Rico is an information book; the words and photographs tell about a real place. What Are Clouds? is an information book that answers the title question with facts about clouds. A Gift for Mom is a story (fiction) about girls who give their mother a present. Ask these additional questions, rereading text from the book covers to students as needed: In which book is the author also the illustrator? (Thomas Pham wrote the story and drew the pictures in Pig and Cat Are Pals.) Which story made up by the author shows characters who are like real people? (A Gift for Mom, because in real life, children might give their mother a present.) Which book is illustrated with photographs? (the information book My Home in Puerto Rico) How are photographs different from other illustrations? (Photographs are made with a camera and not drawn by hand, like the other illustrations.) Which of the four books would you be most interested in reading? Why? (Encourage discussion of the types of texts available to readers.) Wrap-Up Check students understanding. Where in a book do you find the title? (on the front cover; also on the title page) What is the difference between an author and an illustrator? (The author writes the words, and the illustrator makes the pictures.) What is the difference between a story book and an information book? (A story is made up by the author. An information book has facts about the real world.) Use students responses to guide your choice of activities in the Adaptations section on the following page. Script page 3
Adaptations For Students Who Need More Support For Students Ready to Move On Select a fiction picture book and a nonfiction picture book. Have students distinguish the front cover from the back cover. Choose one of the books, and identify each of these elements on its front cover: title author s name illustrator s name Have students point to the corresponding element on the other book s front cover. Ask questions about both books, encouraging students to respond by using the books to show and tell the answers. Examples of questions: Which book has facts about skyscrapers? Who wrote the words and sentences in the book of information? Who drew the pictures of the three billy goats? Which book tells a story? Who is the author of the storybook? Guide students to think about subcategories within the two broad categories of Stories and Information. Using a variety of ageappropriate texts, read aloud short passages. Ask students to name the kind of text the passage comes from, and prompt them to elaborate on their answers by telling as much as they can about the text. Examples they may identify: stories about characters who seem real stories about events that can t happen in real life mystery or adventure stories information about nature information about how to make an art project true stories true stories about people who really lived Script page 4
Cows Give Milk by Donald Abramson Drawings by Trina Bogen Cora the Flying Cow Written by Rachel Jessup Illustrated by Mark Haddad Reproducible page 1
Pig and Cat Are Pals Story and Pictures by Thomas Pham My Home in Puerto Rico by Olga Torres Photographs by Lisa Cabra What Are Clouds? by Gail Russo Illustrated by Terry Shannon A Gift for Mom Written by Helen Gold Illustrated by Scott Burgess Reproducible page 2